Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The figures on what we are doing in Harcourt Street are there in the report. I think the number of gardaí is higher than what the Deputy said but it is a moot point. The Deputy is right that it is the most critical building in terms of the teams of people that are in it. We have a lease on the place for the next six years so we have a window of opportunity to provide a permanent base for all the gardaí that are required. We have identified a site on which we will build a new facility. The budget for the building of that facility is something like €80 million. Discussions are going on between the Office of Public Works, the gardaí and the Department of Justice and Equality to finalise the brief for the accommodation that will be required. That work is ongoing. There is a five-year window with a contingency of one year to allow for a new building to be built. When I looked at it, I said it was something we needed to do so we would not find ourselves in the same situation in five or six years time. This is the plan that will be put in place. We are working closely with the Department of Justice and Equality whose Vote the money will be coming from to build it.

The Harcourt Street building was bought by the vulture fund. I do not know how much it paid for it. I think it was bought in a bundle that cost €200 million. The Deputy mentioned a figure which I am not aware of.