Limerick TD and Minister of State Patrick O’Donovan has said that he was very happy with the visit of Minister Kevin “Boxer” Moran to Newcastle West Garda Station.
“At short notice I arranged a visit by Minister Moran to Newcastle West Garda Station to see the conditions that the Gardaí, civilian staff and the public face. I explained to the Minister that since the day the Station opened in the 1970’s little or no change was made even though the population and size of the area that the Station covers has increased and the number of personnel has also massively increased.”
Patrick O’Donovan said that the Minister reiterated the OPW support for the timeframe and schedule for the project that will see alternative offices and accommodation being used over a period of time that will lead up to the station in Newcastle West being able to be replaced.
The Minister met with local Garda management, Garda representatives and officials of his Department with Minister O’Donovan and he inspected the Station and the facilities there.
After the visit Patrick O’Donovan said “This visit was very important. Newcastle West Garda Station is a District Headquarters covering a huge geographical area and the Station is not up to standard. For over twenty years the Station has been left get to the position it now is. I’m glad that the two key Ministers, Charlie Flanagan and Kevin Boxer Moran, have now seen the Station, have met the representatives, seen the conditions and agreed a schedule.”
Patrick O’Donovan said that Boxer Moran agreed that a communication schedule on the progress being made by the project group would be provided regularly. Patrick O’Donovan said that this was very important to ensure that everyone who has an interest in the development of the Station would be kept up to date.
