Kildare County Council to request a 'building review' of Maynooth Garda Station

Kildare County Council is to write to the Office of Public Works (OPW) to request a 'building review' of Maynooth Garda Station, given the recent restoration of Buckley House and adjoining properties.

Cllr Donna Phelan (FF) motioned for the council to write to the OPW at a recent meeting of Clane Maynooth Municipal District, held on Friday, October 3 2025.

Cllr Phelan said she welcomed the significant investment that was being afforded Leinster Street, especially the restoration of Buckley House and the adjoining properties.

However, she said, the condition of Maynooth Garda Station now stands in stark contrast to all this work.

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At present, she said, the building is “not fit for purpose”, it does not function like a Garda Station, and was not meeting the needs of the growing town of Maynooth.

It was her belief, she added, that the council should formally write to the Office of Public Works and request a full review of the building.

It was, she said, “essential” that the building be upgraded both to meet the operational needs of An Garda Síochána, and to complement the wider regeneration projects that are taking place on Leinster Street.

“This is not just about aesthetics”, she told the council, “it's about ensuring that our Garda have a modern, functional base that our main street presents a consistent and positive image for residents and businesses and visitors alike.”

Supporting the motion, Cllr Peter Melrose (SD) said that Buckley House does indeed “look fantastic”, and its refurbishment does put the Garda Station next to it “in not so good stead.”

He wondered if the letter sent to the OPW could ask for a structural evaluation or a feasibility study on the Garda Station, as it was to his knowledge a protected structure.

Cllr Tim Durkan (FG) pointed out that the garda station is not at present wheelchair accessible, and that if a letter were going to be sent to the OPW, it ought to stress that as a public building, the Garda Station “is not publicly accessible to all.”

Also supporting the motion, Cllr Angela Feeney said that she had previously fought for a full-time Garda Station for Maynooth, but “in the spirit of the motion” she believed the current station should at least be enhanced.

With members having agreed on the motion, a letter will now be sent to the OPW from the local authority requesting a building review of Maynooth Garda Station.