Various options for future of closed Garda Stations
Keshcarrigan Garda Station closed on January 31. Photo by Willie Donnellan
It is over a month since five garda stations closed in Leitrim and attention has now turned to the future of those buildings.
Stations in Keshcarrigan, Cloone, Dromahair, Dromod and Glenfarne closed their doors on January 31, some of the buildings are listed dating back to the early 1800s, many had also been renovated in the past five years, but all are now boarded up.
Following up on some questions about the future of the buildings from the local communities, the Leitrim Observer contacted the OPW, who have responsibility for the unused barracks.
The paper was informed this week that the OPW have a policy on the closed stations.
The state agency will first identify, “if other State Bodies, including Government Departments and the wider public sector has a use for the property.”
If there is no obvious use for the building “the OPW will then consider disposing of the property on the open market, if and when conditions prevail, in order to generate much needed revenue for the Exchequer.”
However, “If no State requirement is identified or if a decision is taken not to dispose of a particular property the OPW would consider community involvement subject to the receipt of an appropriate business case which would indicate that the community/voluntary group has the means to insure, maintain and manage the property and that there are no ongoing costs to the Exchequer.”
The OPW have provided no date for the completion of their assessment on the buildings, but it would seem that they are open to ideas from the communities on the best use of the stations.
Pictured right is a photo of Keshcarrigan garda station which closed at the end of January. The future of the building is now under assessment.
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Saturday 25 May 2013
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