Former garda station gets new lease of life

THE former Inagh garda station is set to be the new home for a local housing association. Clare County Council confirmed this week that it had purchased the property for €20,000. It will be the new headquarters for the Inagh housing association which has recently amalgamated with the Inis housing association – a tier 2 approved housing body providing homes to eligible individuals and families mainly in the Mid West region In its latest monthly management report the council states it had recently signed contracts for the acquisition of the former Inagh Garda Station from the Office of Public Works (OPW). The report continues, “This is a further example of moving to acquire vacant buildings and work with local groups to find a use for them. In this case, it is proposed to lease the small building to the Local Housing Association, who will base staff in the building and use it as their office. Such collaborations are key to local community development. When the acquisition is completed, the proposal for leasing will be brought to Council for approval”. The lease of the former garda station came before the January meeting of the west Clare municipal district. A senior official told councillors the building would provide a base in north Clare for the housing association. “It has been vacant since the Garda station closed. Currently the office of public works are selling some of the more high profile Garda stations in the county. Because this was of limited use and wouldn’t be suitable as a residence, we acquired it for the sum of €20,000. We’re just going through the close of the sale. It’s being bought for the Inagh housing association to have as an office. Currently they are amalgamating with the Inis housing association. This would be an office base for them”, the official said, Councillor Shane Talty congratulated Inagh housing association on the development. “I’d like to congratulate those in the Inagh housing association. I think they have recognised the limitations of their own capacity. They have done great work over the last 10 years or so. They are partnering now with Inis and it will give them a base for North Clare”, he said.