merrion street

• Approximately 120 Garda personnel based in new station
• Station part of €100m investment in three regional and divisional headquarters

The Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan, Acting Garda Commissioner Donall Ó Cualáin and Minister of State at the Office of Public Works, Kevin “Boxer” Moran have today officially opened the new Wexford Garda Station in an event attended by representatives from all segments of local society including community and civil society groups.

Approximately 120 Garda personnel are based in the new station. It is one of three major new Garda regional and divisional headquarters recently completed. Two other major new Garda HQ developments have been completed at Kevin Street, Dublin (April 2018), and Galway (July 2018). The construction of these 3 regional and divisional headquarters involved Exchequer funding of over €100 million. These state-of-the-art facilities represent a major investment in Garda infrastructure and will significantly assist An Garda Síochána both in continuing to provide a professional policing service in their regions and also in the delivery of the Modernisation and Renewal Programme.

Speaking at the opening, Minister Flanagan said:

We are now seeing the results of the unprecedented public funding provided to An Garda Síochána in recent years. In addition to the 3 top-quality regional and divisional headquarters completed in Galway, Wexford and Dublin, significant progress is now also being made by the Office of Public Works, in conjunction An Garda Síochána, in the wider Garda Building and Refurbishment Programme. For example, cell upgrade works have already been completed at 80 Garda stations.

The opening of the new Divisional Headquarters is taking place at a time of major reform and investment which will redefine our national police service as an organisation. As we approach the centenary of the establishment of An Garda Síochána, the organisation is on the cusp of significant change including in its leadership. The expert Commission on the Future of Policing is in the final stages of its work; its report will chart a new model for policing in the decades ahead and will challenge us all to deliver a new vision for policing in Ireland. In addition, the incoming Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris will bring his ability and vital policing, security and change management experience to the challenge of transforming An Garda Síochána so that it becomes a model of policing excellence, equipped to deal with the huge range of challenges facing police services worldwide.

Minister Flanagan also took the opportunity to thank Acting Commissioner Ó Cualáin for his service in advance of his retirement in September 2018 and reiterated the Government’s commitment to continue to deliver on the ambitious investment and reform programmes underway, in order to ensure a world-class, strong and visible police presence throughout the country.