Mr. Brian Hayes, TD, Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW) today (27 January 2014) officially handed over the keys of the former Garda Station in Cliffoney for community use.
Speaking at the handover today, the Minister said, “I’m pleased to be back in County Sligo today, to once again hand over a former Garda Station to the local community. Since my announcement of OPW’s disposal policy early last year, I have been very impressed by the enterprising spirit of communities all over Ireland as they propose alternate uses for the former Garda Stations. Today is no exception here in Cliffoney; the Cliffoney Development Group has excellent plans to utilise this building for the benefit of the residents and tourists to the village. I am particularly pleased that in addition to setting up a tourist information office, they plan on hosting MABS clinics, which will be of enormous benefit to many people. I’m told that a Men’s Shed will also be established here in the building and I hope that will be a tremendous success also. I wish the Cliffoney Development Group well with their plans and I encourage other communities to follow their lead.”
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Note to editors:
The Cliffoney Development Group was established in May 2011 and is made up of volunteers who reside in Cliffoney village. A variety of activities / groups will be based at the property including:
Tourist Information Office
Activities for senior citizens
MABS clinics
A Men’s Shed
Garda Station Closures
Closure of Garda Stations is a policing matter and for the Minister of Justice/An Garda Síochána. 139 closures were announced over two policing plans i.e. 39 in December 2011 and 100 in December 2012. In March 2013 Minister Hayes announced an OPW disposal policy, briefly as follows:
Option 1) Other State Use;
Option 2) Sale on open market –
Option 3) Consideration if options 1 and 2 not suitable (for whatever reason) given to applications from Community/Voluntary Groups;
Types of Community/Voluntary Groups: Various voluntary/community/sporting groups have expressed an interest in acquiring usage. Examples of usage are community meeting point, amateur dramatics, parents' associations, festival committees, sporting groups (space for team meetings rather than training), location for presentation of prizes following events, scouts, dancing groups, active retirement facilities and meeting point, card games, training courses or children's parties.
Options 1 and 2 will be fully explored first before applications are considered from various groups.
To date, five former Garda Stations have been handed over for Community use:
Ballymote, Co. Sligo
Beaufort & Ballinskelligs, Co. Kerry
Cootehall, Co. Roscommon
Dromahair, Co. Leitrim