Garda station revamp expected to go to tender in September

The OPW said this week that it hopes to go to tender for the multi-million euro revamp and extension of Athlone Garda Station by the end of September, however funding for the project remains uncertain. Last April, tender documents were close to completion according to the Office of Public Works, but since then the project has been at a standstill, a delay the government office attributed this week to uncertainty with regard to funding. When queried on whether the money is now in place to proceed, a short statement from the OPW said the funding for the project is still subject to Ministerial approval. The saga to replace the current cramped station, which has rumbled on for years now, doesn't look any closer to fruition this week as it appears the Government's financial backing for the project is still not in place to enable work to begin on the long awaited development. Expected to cost several million to complete, the major construction project on the westside of the town, includes the complete refurbishment of the existing garda station at Barracks Street, along with the adaptation and revamp of the old social welfare offices next door, which already houses a number of officers.