The headquarters of the new Waterford/Carlow/Kilkenny Garda Divsion will be located in Waterford.
An Garda Síochána has today announced the locations of the new Regional and Divisional Headquarters as part of a major restructuring programme in the force.
The Regions will reduce from six to four and the Garda Divisions from 28 to 19.
There had been fears that the HQ of the Waterford Division would be moved to Kilkenny.
An Garda Síochána say a wide range of operational factors were considered when deciding where the new headquarters should be based, including population, geography, projected growth, crime trends and workload.
Waterford Fianna Fáil Councillor Eddie Mulligan is welcoming the decision. He says Waterford will greatly benefit from the Chief Superintendent being based here:
"Under the new reorganisation, it is the Chief Superintendent himself who will be responsible for the allocation and deployment of Gardaí throughout, not only in Waterford, but Kilkenny and Carlow.
"And with him based here in Waterford City, the fifth busiest station here in Ireland, he will certainly be on the ground seeing what's happening in Waterford, and will certainly be hearing from local representatives like myself as to where we need Gardaí out and about in the community."
