New council hq wont accommodate all staff

The former Quinn Insurance building at Johnstown, Navan, which is earmarked to be the new headquarters for Meath County Council, will not be large enough to accommodate all the staff who will be going into it, an official told a meeting of Meath County Council this week.
Director of services Des Foley was delivering a report on the progress in converting the building which the council purchased for €5 million in April last year and which comprises 7,710 square metres of office space.
He said the council was at an advanced stage in the designing of the building and how it would function in the future. Upwards of 400 staff would be moving to the building, he said.
Tenders would be going out soon for the main fitting out and it is hoped to have a contractor in place to start the work by the end of the year, with a view to moving in next spring.
A new council chamber is also planned at the front of the existing Quinn building, now named Buvinda House. A number of choices have been reduced down to two options.
The council chamber will provide space for meetings (accommodating 80-100 people) and will have a cathaoirleach’s office, four rooms for political parties and independent groupings with members on the council, a media room, public gallery and ancillary offices.