Sarah O'Reilly (Aontú)

People on the ground are very frustrated. They have been hearing whispers of a new Garda station in Bailieborough since 2007. Since then there has been delay after delay. This saga stretches back almost two decades. In 2015, a new Garda station was announced, as a priority. Does the Government call a ten-year wait a priority? In 2016, we were told that the OPW was in legal negotiations. In 2017, it was still in legal negotiations. In 2018, a site was sourced. At the end of 2018, we were told that planning would be soon lodged. In 2019, tenders were being prepared. In 2020, we were told contracts were expected shortly and, in 2021, the same again. In 2022, we finally saw work begin and we were promised completion in 20 months. That would still have meant a completion date in late 2023, which eight years from 2015 is still very disappointing. We now know that the opening is not expected until 2026 at the earliest. To be honest, I and the residents of Bailieborough have no faith that this will materialise either. Meanwhile, gardaí still operate out of dilapidated buildings on Barrack Street in the town. The O'Higgins report described the conditions there as deplorable. That was years ago, but despite a new divisional headquarters being a priority, nothing has changed.

Bailieborough is no small outpost as it is a Garda district headquarters under the new policing model. A cybercrime unit is also promised for the new station, yet gardaí are left to work in facilities that are not fit for purpose. The building was originally an RIC barracks and was condemned in a subsequent report.

A load of parliamentary questions have been submitted by local representatives spanning as far back as 2015, and time and again the Department has responded with vague answers. I had to read back through these and read over and over how a completion date could not be provided as it was a complex process. This speaks to a certain incapability within the Government. How can it be the case that there is no set timeline for planning and no repercussions for many years of delays? The situation is completely inadequate and draws into question the competence of the Government in dealing with larger projects when it cannot progress one headquarters in one town in one country. The people of Bailieborough are tired of excuses and the gardaí are tired of waiting. We need a clear, credible timeline for completion that the public can actually trust. When will the station be completed and in use?