Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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I agree with Deputy Carthy on having officials from the OPW in early in the new year. At this stage, we have met them that often, they are our new best friends. There has been nothing but meetings, but there has been little outcome from those. It is clear that we are not going to let this go. It will be an issue we will want to deal with when they come before us in the new year. We will want an update at that stage, if the matter has not already been concluded. It has gone on for far too long.

In the context of the Garda stations, I had a look at those before. Some of the stations were disposed of for very little money - a number in quite rural areas - and some looked as if they could be repurposed. Are the terms of the lease sufficiently attractive to encourage those who take up leases, including local authorities, to invest in refurbishment? Every one of these stations would require some degree of refurbishment in order to be repurposed. I hope there is no impediment to their use. It is good to see these buildings being used for community purposes, if that can be done and if there is an appropriate use for them.

One matter I would like us to look at when the officials come before us is the cost-effectiveness appraisal carried out by the OPW. I have to say that one of the items raised a very serious flag with me and it looked to me that it was pretty much in the same family as Miesian Plaza, and that is the new headquarters for the Data Protection Commissioner. I can send the Chair a note on that. I think it is on page 88 but, in any event, I will send the note on and it can be circulated. There appeared to be some significant issues in regard to the location that was selected and whether alternative properties were looked at. I want to raise that very specifically with them when they come in. I will send the Chair a note on it because we cannot keep on repeating the same mistakes. While there are issues that they work on and they do very good work, the whole area of property is one we have looked at before in regard to whether or not we get best value for money.