Policing boost for Laois possible as Garda stations set to reopen in Offaly

Garda station in Ballinakill was shut during the property crash austerity and then sold on

placeholder image — Garda station in Ballinakill was shut during the property crash austerity and then sold on

Communities in parts of Laois may be hoping of seeing a return of stationed gardaí to their areas following news that Garda stations in two Offaly villages are set to reopen.

It's been revealed that stations in Daingean and Rhode will open their doors again albeit with limited opening hours.

Laois and Offaly are in the same Garda Division which saw stations in Ballacolla and Ballinakill shut between 2012 and 2013 during the austerity cuts caused by the property crash. Ballinakill was subsequently sold for €92,000 in 2015.

Upgrades have been carried out on Clonaslee, Durrow, Borris-In-Ossory, Ballylinan, Mountmellick, Portarlington, Arles and Stradbally satellite stations. A major overhaul is on the cards for Portlaoise Garda Station as part of turning it into the HQ for the new Laois, Offaly, Kildare Division.

The news for Offaly was been hailed as a 'positive move in the right direction', by Fianna Fail TD Barry Cowen.,

The reopening of the stations also reflects the growing population of North Offaly as was shown in the last Census said the public representatives.

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A meeting with the Garda Superintendent John Scanlan has been sought to discuss the re-openings and possibility of increasing Garda numbers in the Edenderry station.