Press Release Author: New Clare County Council HQ To Open For Business
Industry: Construction
Press Release Summary: Monday, January 21st 2008 - A two and half year project costing €27 million will come to fruition at New Road, Ennis this Wednesday when Clare County Council’s new Corporate Headquarters opens for business.
Press Release Body: To facilitate the relocation to Àras Contae an Chlàir, all County Council’s offices in Ennis will remain closed to the public today and tomorrow.
The completed facility will provide accommodation for 300 staff, as well as meeting rooms, staff canteen, laboratory, Mayor’s office, and Council Chamber and 3 party rooms for the elected members. 320 car parking spaces are provided at the rear of the building.
The Corporate Headquarters building incorporates a number of environmentally friendly measures and will operate as a naturally ventilated building. Some solar panels and a wood chip heating system have been installed. Following a tender process, Clare Wood Chip of Flagmount has been selected to supply the wood chip for the building.
Cllr Patricia McCarthy, Mayor of Clare welcomed the opening of the new offices and referred to the ease of access to the various Council services that will now be available at the new location.
Mr. Alec Fleming, Clare County Manager, added, “I would like to pay tribute to the Council staff for their patience and co-operation in relocating from the old offices and the move back to Àras Contae an Chlàir this week. I now look forward to the Council providing a service of the highest standard from Àras Contae an Chlàir.”
Mr. Michael McNamara, Director of Services, explained that the building had been designed in a user-friendly manner.
He said, “The Council was very conscious of the need to put in place the highest standards of accessibility to all parts of the building and service within. We have been working with the National Disability Authority with a view to attaining accreditation under the Excellence through Accessibility Scheme.”
“There is a Customer Services Desk on the main atrium while the cash office and Planning, Housing, Environment sections are all located on the ground floor for ease of access by the general public. The offices will also be open to the public each weekday from 9am-5pm and through lunch hour”, stated Mr. McNamara.
Sections of the Council were relocated to several sites around Ennis when the old offices on the New Road site were vacated in mid 2005. Following a tender process that generated a lot of interest from many of the country’s larger developers, the firm of Michael McNamara & Co. Building Contractors was chosen as the preferred option to Design, Build and Finance the provision of the new building.
The contractors commenced work in January 2006. The first phase of the works involved the construction of a Machinery Yard Headquarters at Beechpark on the R474 Ennis-Kilmaley Road. Work on the construction of the New Headquarters has continued since the new Machinery Yard was completed in May 2006.
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Notes to Editor: For further information please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy PR on 086-8534900 or media@dunphypr.com
Web Site: http://www.dunphypr.com
Contact Details: Mark Dunphy Dunphy Public Relations IRELAND www.dunphypr.com media@dunphypr.com 00353-(0)868534900 (Mobile) 00353-(0)656839692 (Fax)
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