Ministers and Garda Commissioner welcome progress on construction of new Garda Divisional Headquarters at Kevin Street

· Building will provide modern 21st century facilities for Gardaí and
members of the public, particularly victims of crime
· Capital allocation of €42 million in 2015 for the provision of three new
Garda divisional Headquarters

Monday 20 April 2015

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin T.D., the
Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe T.D.
(representing the Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald
T.D., who had to attend urgent Government business in Luxembourg), and
Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan have today visited the construction
site for the new Garda Divisional Headquarters at Kevin Street, Dublin.
Work on this new building, the total cost of which will exceed €31 million,
commenced in February and the project is expected to take approximately two
years to complete.

When finished it will provide An Garda Síochána with a modern, state of the
art headquarters building for the DMR South Division consisting of a range
of accommodation to meet An Garda Síochána’s existing and future
operational requirements.

Commenting on the building works, Minister Fitzgerald stated: “I am
delighted that work on this very significant project has commenced. As
Minister for Justice and Equality I am determined to ensure that An Garda
Síochána are, to the greatest extent possible, sufficiently resourced to
deliver an effective policing service. That commitment is evident in the
recent recommencement of Garda recruitment, the investment of more that €27
million in the Garda fleet in the period 2012-2015 and the Capital
allocation of €42 million in 2015 for the provision of three new Garda
divisional Headquarters.”

Speaking at the construction site, Minister Howlin said: “Capital
investment in public services and facilities is a priority for the
Government. It is creating and sustaining much needed jobs in the
construction sector and helping to stimulate and support economic growth.
This year we will be investing a total of €3.2 billion in public
infrastructure. This project is one of a bundle of three new Garda
headquarters that will be built over the next three years, and we have
provided almost €100 million for this purpose. The public finances are on
the mend, which will allow for more investment over the coming years. We
need to ensure that economic recovery is supported by sustainable levels of
investment in national infrastructure and public services and I will be
setting out the Government’s capital investment plans up to 2020 later this
year.”

Speaking earlier today, Minister Harris stated: “My Office, the Office of
Public Works, has a close and collaborative engagement with An Garda
Síochána and the Department of Justice and Equality. The contemporary
building design of this new Divisional Headquarters in Kevin Street will
provide 21st century facilities and mark a big step forward in the quality
of operational facilities for the Gardaí in Dublin City. I also welcome
that this project will generate nearly 250 jobs over its lifetime and have
no doubt that the Bride and Kevin Street corner will, once again, be
revitalised by this building which will also be respectful of its
historical neighbours”.

Commissioner O’Sullivan commented: “this is a very welcome development for
An Garda Síochána working in Dublin and in south Dublin especially.

“Kevin Street is one of the busiest stations in the country and this new
Divisional Headquarters will be a significant boost to our people working
in this Division. Not only will our members have modern facilities in
terms of training, custody management, and for managing major incidents and
operations, but there will be improved facilities for the public,
particularly victims of crime, to meet with our members. When completed, I
am confident the Kevin Street Divisional HQ will be a great example of the
modern, progressive police service we can provide to the public.

“I am also looking forward to work starting in the near future on the new
stations for Galway and Wexford, which will also be hugely welcomed by
local Garda members and the public.”

The new Garda Headquarters at Kevin Street, which has been designed by the
Office of Public Works Architectural Services Division, is one of three
major Garda construction projects being undertaken as part of the
Government Infrastructure Stimulus Package.

This Stimulus Package will also provide for the construction of a new
Regional/Divisional Headquarters for Galway and a Divisional Headquarters
for the Wexford Division. The procurement process in relation to both of
these projects is at an advanced stage and subject to the successful
completion of that process, work is expected to commence in the near
future.

Ends…//
Note for editors:

New Building
The new Garda station at Kevin Street will consist of a 6,840 square metre
Divisional Headquarters building with a 5,400 square metre double basement.
It will provide extensive accommodation facilities to meet the requirements
of both Gardaí and members of the public, including a public office,
conference, training, custody and event management facilities,
accommodation for victim support and a vehicle testing garage.

History
The existing Garda station is on the site of a medieval palace in one of
Dublin’s most historic quarters. Marsh’s Library, St. Patrick’s Cathedral
and St. Sepulchre, the 14th century Episcopal Palace formed the original
core of the ancient Liberties of St. Patrick and St. Sepulchre, outside the
city walls on the east bank of the river Poddle. The building included a
large stone hall and annex which still remain within the current building.

Following Reformation St. Sepulchre’s Palace became the residence of the
King’s Lord Deputies before becoming the Archbishop’s residence towards the
end of the 16th century. The building ceased to be a Palace when Archbishop
Charles Agar moved his residence to 16 St. Stephen’s Green.

The former Palace was then converted to a barracks for mounted constables
of the Dublin Metropolitan Police in 1806.

The new Garda Divisional Headquarters will be located east of the
historical Archbishop’s palace. An extensive programme of archaeological
investigation was carried out as part of this project. The archaeological
teams recorded and removed all archaeological deposits and the site was
cleared prior to works commencing.

Galway Garda Station
The new Regional and Divisional Headquarters for Galway will be based in a
site in Murrough, Galway. The proposed development consists of a
four/five storey building with flat roofs along the Dublin Road, which will
include conference facilities, vehicular testing, garage/workshops, stores,
offices, public reception, prisoner processing areas, plant, firing range
and associated ancillary spaces. A public pedestrian entrance is proposed
on the Dublin Road.

The new facility was designed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) and a
submission under Part IX of the Planning Regulations was lodged with Galway
City Council in December 2013.

Tenders for the project were received on 24th December 2014. Tenders have
been evaluated and OPW is making satisfactory progress in a process of
post tender clarifications with the contractor who appears to have
submitted the most economically advantageous tender.

It is anticipated that construction work will commence on site as soon as
the tender evaluation process has been completed and a contractor has
been appointed. The construction period is expected to take two years to
complete.

Wexford Garda Station
Tenders for the development of the new Divisional Headquarters were
received on the 3rd March 2015. A detailed analysis of the tender
submissions is currently being undertaken by the Office of Public Works and
is expected to be completed shortly. It is anticipated that construction
work will commence on site as soon as the tender evaluation process has
been completed and a contractor has been appointed. The construction
period is expected to take two years to complete.