Cllr calls for new council building plan to be axed

Meath County Council has been urged to abandon plans for its €26 million new headquarters. Cllr Emer Tóibín has called for a halt to plans for building a new council chamber and associated offices at Buvinda House.

"The planned extension for Meath County Council's headquarters will cost somewhere between €21 to €26 million. This is a significant amount of money which we in Aontú feel would be better spent on the provision of social and affordable housing in the county.

"We're living in a time where many constituents are under enormous economic pressure. People are contacting our office looking for food - that's how bad things are. Now really isn't the right time to go building a new council chamber.

“Our spending must be prioritised in helping those who are struggling and in tackling the housing crisis. We need to have a bit of cop on when it comes to this issue".

"I've been speaking to many constituents this week who are appalled at this decision - this plan should be scrapped and the millions spent on the provision of housing instead", she concluded.

Meath County Council has signalled plans to build a state-of-the-art council chamber and associated offices at its Buvinda House headquarters site at a cost of €21 to €26 million.

Plans for the building are to be lodged with An Bord Pleanala next month and, if approved, construction work would start in the new year, with a two to three year completion target.

The new extension at Buvinda House will include a new council chamber and offices for an additional 155 personnel.