It is expected the tender for the re-development of Portlaoise Garda Station will be issue in the third quarter of this year.
So says Laois TD Charlie Flanagan who is a former Minister for Justice.
The Office of Public Works granted planning permission for a brand new Garda station in Portlaoise in March.
The €24 million plan, which was submitted last December, was officially approved two months ago.
The multi-million station will serve as Headquarters for the new Garda Division for Laois Offaly and Kildare – which encompasses around 600,000 people.
The garda station was originally built in the 1800s where it operated as a military barracks.
The planned multi-million euro works include the construction of a three-storey office block on the army site at the rear of the garda station.
While the demolition, rebuilding and major refurbishing on part of the old building will also be carried out.
The existing two story gymnasium building, which was constructed in 1910, will be demolished.
While so too will be two, two-story buildings that were built in 1980s.
Site development works include the provision of hard and soft landscaping, bin stores, 60 car parking spaces including three disabled parking spaces and 20 bicycle parking spaces.
Metal gates, signage, extensive hard and soft landscaping, lighting, CCTV, new railings and boundary wall treatments will also be included.
A new separate foul drain will connect to the existing public drainage system and all surface water will be attenuated on site.
Deputy Flanagan welcomed this update and said: “The OPW are working very closely with AGS to agree a ‘decant plan’ for Garda members and it is expected this will be agreed shortly.
“Permission to commence the enabling works (e.g.certain demolitions) has been obtained by OPW, so preliminary works will commence on site following a short Tender process.
“This is a positive step in the development of a world class Garda station for the Midlands.”
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