No plans for Garda station to be built in Citywest area
By Aideen O'Flaherty
THE government has confirmed that there are no plans for a Garda station to be built in Citywest, a decision which a local councillor has said will cause “a lot of disappointment” in the area.
As previously reported in The Echo, calls have been made for Tallaght to either get a bigger station or a second station in the area, as the population and infrastructure in the area has grown considerably in the years since the station was built in 1987.
The Garda station in Tallaght was built in 1987
Close to €300,000 has been spent renting overflow space for Tallaght Garda Station in the Plaza Hotel since 2017, where a number of garda departments, including the community police, juvenile liaison officers and the child protection unit are based.
Fianna Fáil councillor for Tallaght Central, Charlie O’Connor, asked his party colleague Niall Collins TD, to submit a parliamentary question to Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan TD, last week, asking if plans were being considered to provide a new Garda station in Citywest.
In response, a Department of Justice and Equality spokesperson stated that a budget of €1.76 billion has been allocated to An Garda Síochána for 2019, however they were informed by the garda authorities “that the Building and Refurbishment Programme, which is based on agreed garda priorities, does not include plans for the development of a new Garda station at Citywest.”
Cllr O’Connor told The Echo: “The current Tallaght Garda Station was built in 1987, and Tallaght has changed quite a bit since then.
“There has been a lot of housing development in the area, and that looks set to continue.”
He added: “I think there’ll be a lot of disappointment that the department is saying no to better garda facilities in Tallaght.
Gardai rent a floor in the Plaza Hotel Complex
“The first priority should be to get a new Garda station, but if that isn’t going to happen, something needs to be done about garda facilities in Tallaght.
“The station is over 30 years old and Tallaght has grown hugely since then – a campaign for improved garda facilities has to continue.”
The Department of Justice and Equality spokesperson added in their response to the parliamentary question that the Garda Commissioner “is primarily responsible for the effective and efficient use of the resources made available to An Garda Síochána, including responsibility for the formulation of proposals in relation to the opening and closing of garda stations.
“Overall garda accommodation needs, including any potential need for a new station at any location, fall to be considered by An Garda Síochána in the context of the ongoing expansion of the garda workforce and implementation of the recommendations contained in the Report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland.”
