Residents of East Meath may have a long wait before seeing a new Garda station, with estimates suggesting it could take at least five to six years before construction begins.
The admission came from Minister of State for the Office of Public Works, Kevin Boxer Moran, in response to a parliamentary question from local Sinn Féin TD Darren O’Rourke.
The current Garda station in Laytown is widely regarded as overcrowded and inadequate for the day-to-day demands of the area, which now serves a population of around 20,000. While previous government ministers have promised a replacement station, progress has been slow.
Deputy O’Rourke has been actively lobbying for the project, but it has emerged that no site for the new station has yet been identified, despite earlier public suggestions to the contrary.
Minister Moran outlined that the Department of Justice’s Sectoral Investment Plan for 2026–2030 includes a number of capital projects for An Garda Síochána. Some of these are currently under construction and expected to be completed between 2026 and 2027, with additional projects planned for 2028–2029.
He confirmed that a new Garda station for Laytown is listed as a “key project” to be progressed after the current priority projects are completed. However, he did not provide a timeline for selecting a site.
Deputy O’Rourke said the lack of a confirmed location leaves local residents and Gardaí without certainty over when the new facility will become a reality.
