REVEALED: Kilkenny will be HQ of newly formed Eastern Garda Region

By COLIN BARTLEY

KILKENNY will be the headquarters of the newly formed Eastern Garda Region, KilkennyNow.ie has learned.

Waterford will maintain its position as the HQ and central station of the newly formed and larger Garda division of Kilkenny, Carlow and Waterford.

But in an unusual move, Kilkenny – and not Waterford – will be the command centre of the overall region, which means the Marble City will benefit from the most radical shake-up of An Garda Siochana in almost a century.

Informed sources also told KilkennyNow.ie that the Government and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris (pictured above inspecting new recruits) view the current Garda stations in Kilkenny and Waterford as “not fit for purpose” as either a regional or a divisional headquarters.

Two new buildings may have to be constructed as part of the restructuring of the force. This could also result in the Garda stations being taken out of their city-centre locations in Kilkenny and Waterford for the first time since An Garda Siochana was formed. The move would be to facilitate the construction of modern buildings on accessible sites, according to sources.

The new divisional headquarters in Waterford could be built on the Kilkenny side of the Suir, albeit purely for “operational and logistical reasons”.

The newly formed Eastern region covers Kilkenny, Carlow, Offaly, Laois, Wexford, Waterford, Wicklow, Kildare, Meath and Westmeath.