NAAS 10 March 2003: Kildare County Council yesterday voted in favour of building its new E58.5m Civic Offices at Devoy Barracks in Naas and to raise a loan of E45m - the gross cost to the Council - to help pay for its new 8,000 m2 offices. The loan repayments will be in the region of E2m a year over 40 years.
After a sometimes heated discussion, County Finance Officer Eamon O’Sullivan assured members that the project will not cost more than the E58.5m budget estimate.
The Council also voted to sell its HQ at St Mary’s to the South Western Area Health Board for E7.6m, allowing it to consolidate its services in one location. The Board has plans to develop a health campus on the combined hospital and St Mary’s sites.
The new Civic Offices will also accommodate Naas Town Council and the Motor Taxation Office, and Co Kildare VEC.
Naas Town Council will be paid E2.7m in the deal as well as securing the former Motor Taxation Office in Basin Street currently owned by Kildare County Council, in return for the transfer of seven acres of land at Devoy Barracks to Kildare County Council.
The cost of Naas Town Council’s office accommodation in Devoy Barracks will be fixed at E4.2m.
A spokesperson for KCC said the move is necessary as building on to accommodate its staff at St Mary’s is no longer a viable option, as the ground which might have been used for this purpose is needed for the redevelopment of Naas General Hospital.
The SWAHB is anxious to purchase St Mary’s subject to suitable terms and conditions but want parking facilities for staff and an agreed deadline for KCC to vacate the premises.
A recent letter from Sean Ashe, Chief Executive, Co Kildare VEC said they urgently require 6-7,000 sq ft of office accommodation and are interested in the current proposal for space at the new civic offices presented to them by KCC. The building would offer a one-stop shop for the VEC in Kildare and the plan was up for discussion at their monthly meeting held later yesterday.
Councillors who voted in favour of the three resolutions to pave the way for the move were: Cllrs Geraldine Conway, Timmy Conway, Fionnuala Dukes, Michael Fitzpatrick, Mary Glennon, Senan Griffin, Rainsford Hendy, Billy Hillis, Paul Kelly, Anthony Lawlor, Martin Miley, Sen Sean O’Fearghail, John O’Neill, PJ Sheridan, Sen Kate Walsh and Mayor Jim Reilly. Against were Sen John Dardis, Cllrs Jim Keane, Tony McEvoy, John McGinley, Deputy Emmet Stagg, and Sen Jack Wall.
Absent from the meeting were: Deputy Sean Power, Cllrs Catherine Murphy and Fiona O’Loughlin.
