Construction work has commenced on a new €2.2 million Civil Defence Headquarters in County Meath.

The new HQ, located at Mullaghboy Industrial Estate, will serve as a permanent home for Civil Defence in the county. It will be the largest Civil Defence building development in the country and together with the outdoor training area on site, will provide volunteers with modern accommodation for both training and the housing of vehicles and equipment. The new facility will also open up the possibility of joint training with neighbouring Civil Defence units in other counties.

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The facility has been designed by Van Dijk Architects and Forrme Construction will carry out the construction works across 12 months.

A sod-turning ceremony was held on Wednesday 08 May to mark the beginning of construction.

Speaking at the ceremony, Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council, Cllr Tom Kelly said: "This new facility is nothing more that the volunteers deserve. We have seen them at their best during the recent severe weather events and there is hardly a weekend that you won't see Civil Defence volunteers on duty at events throughout the county."

The Civil Defence HQ is expected to be completed in 2020.

(CM/JG)