Portlaoise Garda Station closing – gardaí to move out
Portlaoise Garda Station ceasing it operations from its premises along the Abbeyleix Road on Tuesday 14 January
NEXT Tuesday 14 January promises to be an historic occasion in Portlaoise, when the local garda station close its doors for the final time.
Originally constructed as a military barracks in 1808 on the Abbeyleix Road, the site played a vital role under British rule. The current structure was built in 1931 and has since been used as the county’s main garda station.
From next Tuesday 200 or so staff will be temporarily redeployed at Grattan House on the Dublin Road in Portlaoise while redevelopment work gets underway on the €25 million Laois-Offaly Garda Divisional Headquarters. It is expected the works will take up to three years to complete.
Two portable buildings at the front of the station on the Abbeyleix Road will continue to be manned to assist the public.
From 14 January, prisoners awaiting a court appearance in Portlaoise will now be held in Abbeyleix Garda Station or Tullamore Garda Station.
The redevelopment work includes the construction of a three-storey office block and major refurbishment of part of the old building, which is located within a historic fort.
