The Western Region Garda Headquarters was delivered by contractor JJ Rhatigan & Co.
Designed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) Architectural Services team led by State Architect, Ciaran O'Connor, the 11,000 sq m complex of buildings are clad in limestone and granite, interconnecting to form a secure courtyard at the centre. In addition, the scheme was designed by OPW to incorporate sustainable green design principles, with green roofs and solar panels for water heating.
Overall, the HQ includes a number of important facilities for delivery of policing services to the community of Galway and the Western Region, including improved office and incident management facilities, appropriate and universally accessible facilities for meeting members of the public, appropriate custody facilities and a property and exhibit management store.
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The facility will will also support a range of regional and divisional functions, such as a Control Room for the Western and Northern Region, a regional armed support unit, divisional policing model hubs and administrative staff, regional specialist units, a divisional protective services unit, a divisional scenes of crime unit, a secure firing range, enhanced training facilities and a newly established regional dog unit.
An Garda Síochána has indicated around 250 personnel are expected to be based in the Western Region Garda Headquarters once it is fully operational.
The facility is one of three major new Garda regional and divisional headquarters recently completed. More than €100 million was invested to deliver the projects.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Justice Minister Charlie 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 Regional Headquarters was taking place at a time of major reform and investment which will redefine our national police service as an organisation."
(LM)
