The decision to award funding for a new €5 million garda barracks in Ballincollig has been put on hold in the wake of recent government cutbacks.

Gardaí in Ballincollig, currently stationed in a cramped and converted house originally built in 1884, were yesterday (Wednesday, August 6) awaiting an announcement on whether or not the project would get the go-ahead.

A spokesperson for the Office of Public Works however confirmed to the Cork Independent that a current review was on-going across all departments and given the current economic climate and increased government cutbacks that no final decision is expected in the near future.

The news has come as a blow to gardaí in Ballincollig who were assured earlier this year that a new station would be provided for the fast-growing commuter town, now one of the largest in Cork. The urgency of the matter was underlined when the dilapidated building was listed among the 10 worst stations in the country in 2007 by the Garda Representative Association.

Michael Creed TD, who has previously raised the issue with the Taoiseach Brain Cowen in the Dáil, said this latest delay was unacceptable, before claiming that it should be taken as a "personal embarrassment", particularly for the Government Minister Batt O'Keefe who resides in the town.

"I would say this is the number one issue on the doorstep in Ballincollig at this point in time. This is the biggest town in county Cork and yet the level of garda cover here presently is more representative of the population of Ballincollig in the 60s. A new barracks is critical in every regard for the town and it should be taken as a personal embarrassment by the Government Minister living here. I am now imploring Batt O'Keefe to do something about the issue.

The local TD also dismissed the current economic slowdown as a viable reason for the delay. "Firstly this is a long-term issue for Ballincollig. Why didn't it happen sooner? I would say the onus is now on the government in particular to provide alternative employment, particularly in sectors such as the building industry where people are losing their jobs. I believe it's now up to the public sector to drive the economy in these times."

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