IT’S A LONG way from being finished at this stage – but this is what the new Garda divisional headquarters for south Dublin city will look like.
Work on the structure got under way in February, and is expected to be finished by early 2017.
It will cost some €31 million to complete.
The new station – in the historic Kevin Street area, just around the corner from St Patrick’s Cathedral – will will consist of a 6,840 square metre divisional HQ, with a 5,400 square metre double basement.
It’s one of three new Garda projects being worked on at the moment. New regional headquarters are also being constructed in Galway, in addition to a divisional HQ for the Wexford area.
It follows a raft of station closures in the wake of the economic downturn.
Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan said in a statement it was “a very welcome development” for gardaí working in Dublin.
“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.”
The Commissioner paid a visit to the site today, along with Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin and Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe.
The existing Kevin Street station, next door to Marsh’s Library, has been a police station in one form or another since 1806. Prior to this it was known as the Palace of St. Sepulchre – and the building is over 800 years old.
It was sold to the Dublin Mounted Police and became a barracks from then until 1922, after which it was occupied by the Garda Síochána.
The new divisional HQ will be located to the east of the existing station.
According to the Department of Justice, an extensive programme of archaeological
investigation was carried out as part of the project.
“The archaeological teams recorded and removed all archaeological deposits and the site was cleared prior to works commencing.”
The new HQ was designed by the Office of Public Works. Some 250 jobs will be created during the construction period.
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