Denis O'Donovan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)

I moved this matter on the Adjournment having regard to the fact that this small Garda station in my constituency is a very important one. The old station is in a state of disrepair and local gardaí are in temporary accommodation which is inappropriate and unsuitable in this era of modern policing. Will the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform outline the current plans and the proposals of his Department for Dunmanway Garda station? In light of the current temporary accommodation being used by gardaí, is it the Department's intention to provide a new Garda station on a greenfield site or to carry out major refurbishment works on the old station? Will the Minister outline the date on which such works are likely to commence, the nature of the works to be executed and any other relevant details?

The position in Dunmanway is untenable and has been so for almost 15 years. Since being elected to Seanad Éireann in August 1997 I have actively pursued this issue. In recent years gardaí were obliged to vacate the old station which is in a state of disrepair. It is unsuitable for human occupation and is particularly inappropriate for occupation by the Garda Síochána. This situation cannot be allowed to pertain. The fact that gardaí had to move to temporary accommodation is not appropriate in the 21st century.

The Minister is aware that a local action group has been working on this issue and rightly so. Its members have raised their voices and campaigned strongly for their Garda station. The Garda Representative Association has publicly supported the provision of a new or refurbished station at Dunmanway. Many local politicians and councillors have also campaigned for years on this matter and the people of Dunmanway deserve much better.

I am aware of the Minister's attitude to this issue and laud him for it, but the morale of the force in Dunmanway is at a low ebb because of the circumstances and the venue in which they are being forced to uphold law and order in Dunmanway and its environs. If the morale of gardaí is low in a town, it affects the local community very badly.

I implore the Minister to take action on this issue. I have been relatively silent on it and had no great desire to stay in the House late on a Thursday to move a motion on the Adjournment having left west Cork last Tuesday at 4.30 a.m. However, this situation needs to be resolved. I am aware there were legal difficulties surrounding the refurbishment of the old Garda station. I am also aware that the Minister's predecessor, Deputy O'Donoghue, announced that funding would be provided to carry out the refurbishment. I am further aware that since then there has been a triangle of passing the ball from one body to the other — from the OPW to the Office of the Attorney General and to the office of a solicitor. The issue to be resolved relates to access to the rear of the old premises. Whatever the issues, something must be done as a matter of urgency for the gardaí in Dunmanway and the people of the town and surrounding areas. The current situation cannot be allowed to continue. We are approaching the end of 2005 and I hope the Minister will have some positive news for me in his reply.

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