No opening date yet for Clonark Garda Station

Contrary to local speculation, gardai in South Roscommon say there is no official opening date as of yet for the newly refurbished and redeveloped Clonark Garda Station. This pronouncement comes despite the fact the OPW last month said they expected the building to be occupied by officers by mid-October. It's just the latest in a series of delays for the barracks -- which will act as the main headquarters for policing in the south of the county -- stretching right back to 2009. Sgt Mark Mahon, who is temporarily based in Knockcroghery, said he expected work on the new station to be completed by the end of the month. While he wouldn't be drawn on what has delayed the project thus far, he said officers are hoping to move in to the new building as soon as possible. It now looks in many quarters that will be sometime in December at the earliest. Gardai have been policing the South Roscommon region on a temporary basis from Knockcroghery for the last two years. The newly extended and refurbished Clonark building will house a public reception, counter, interview room, general office, Sergeant's office, male and female locker rooms, storage and a garage. Planning permission was granted back in September 2009 for the new station facility at Clonark, involving the renewal and adaptation of the old station building, to provide up-to-date modern facilities for gardai. However, a number of delays followed and construction only began in November of last year.