A year after the announcement of a new €35m garda station for Sligo, it appears little or no progress has been made on the project.
It’s believed a site has not even yet been found for the new garda station building.
Last October, it was announced that Sligo, a regional Garda headquarters, was one of five towns which were to get new stations.
It was part of a nationwide refurbishment programme for garda buildings announced by Ministers Frances Fitzgerald and Simon Harris.
This week, the Garda Press Office said the garda authorities were working in close cooperation with the Office of Public Works, which has the responsibility for providing and maintaining garda accommodation.
However, the Office of Public Works said it had forwarded a request for information on the matter from Ocean FM News to the Garda press office.
Meanwhile, efforts continue to try to improve conditions in the present station in Sligo after Garda Representative Association members threatened a walkout last October.
An engineeer’s report had found the building was not fit for purpose, that it was a fire trap, a health and safety hazard, and too small for the current workforce.
It cited rodent invasions, an old heatintg system and ‘third-world’ toilet facilities.
It’s understood prisoners are no longer held in the cells in Sligo but are taken to the new garda station in Ballymote.
However, the longterm solution is a new garda station for Sligo, which is to be provided under a Public Private Partnership arrangement.
But without a site, little real progress can be made.
