The development of Clare's new Civil Defence Headquarters has taken a major step forward with a key appointment.

A Jada Kelly RAC Joint Venture secured a €2.7 million contract to upgrade and refurbish a building in the Quin Road Industrial Estate in Ennis to make way for the development.

When complete, the HQ will include full facilities for the Clare Civil Defence Volunteers, training facilities and an area to store and manage the fleet of operational vehicles used by Civil Defence. It will also house a Records Management Centre for Clare County Council.

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Work will commence on the new facility on Monday 16 September.

Councillor Cathal Crowe, Mayor of Clare, said: "I look forward to this fantastic new development which will give Clare Civil Defence a modern facility for its 24/7 operations. The contribution that Clare Civil Defence management and volunteers make to the life of everybody in County Clare is significant. The total number of operational duties carried out in 2018 was 157. This new building will allow it to be delivered at the highest level."

Noel Carmody, Clare Civil Defence Officer, added: "The development is being supported by the Department of Defence and it has the potential to become the most modern Civil Defence Headquarters in the country, with significant potential as a training site. We anticipate that building works will be substantially completed within six months with the opening taking place in spring 2020."

(CM/JG)