Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

I am grateful to Deputy O'Donovan for raising this matter and I do not say that out of politeness. On a recent visit to his constituency, where I was opening the new Garda station at Bantry, Deputy O'Donovan asked me, before I set out on my journey, if I would be in a position to go to Dunmanway to see what the situation was for myself. On the way to the opening of the Bantry Garda station, I stopped in Dunmanway and made contact with the local gardaí in the temporary station. They showed me the old station, which has been abandoned for some time, and its surroundings. I was dismayed by what I saw. I saw a very derelict building with ivy growing through its roof and a massive nettle garden at the back. Decay was everywhere. I was told that the project for refurbishment had been in a state of paralysis for many years. I was also informed that the alternative of a greenfield site for a new station was being explored.

Having viewed the station, gone to Bantry, performed the opening ceremony, met the resident's group referred to by Deputy O'Donovan, met the Deputy himself and discussed the matter, I returned to Dublin and made inquiries as to the situation with Dunmanway Garda station. As the Deputy said, the issue was that the process of refurbishment of the station had become stalled in the triangle that he described. The problem with refurbishing the station on its existing site was that rear access was required and there was a difficulty in establishing title to land at the rear of the station. These are the kinds of problems which frequently produce paralysis in public affairs. The fact there is a problem means that everybody stops progressing the issue. The problem goes on a merry-go-round, so to speak, whereby people stare at it but nothing is done.

I am grateful to Deputy O'Donovan for drawing this matter to my attention because, if I had not been in the neck of the woods on the day in question and had not been asked by him to see the station, I would not have been aware of all the facts. I am pleased to tell him now that the question of making good title to the access route to the rear of the station has been resolved to everyone's satisfaction. Therefore, the legal impediment to getting on with the project has been dealt with.

The next stage is that the access must be purchased, which will not be a major problem. The refurbishment will commence when this happens. I cannot put an exact date on it but I will make it a priority that the plans for the refurbishment of the Garda station are put in hand and that the present situation, which is unacceptable, will be addressed. I accept the point that gardaí who are asked to operate out of temporary premises are entitled to see some light at the end of the tunnel and, if not, it will affect their morale. It is bound to affect the morale of a station party which is trying to serve its local community. It is all the more reason this matter should be dealt with.

The Garda Síochána has 703 stations in Ireland, in addition to other complexes such as Templemore, Garda Headquarters and many other facilities. I want to make it clear, because we sometimes hear about insufficient investment in the Garda Síochána, that the Garda budget has never been larger. A sum of €1.1 billion goes through my Department to it, while the Office of Public Works in a separate Vote has plans to invest more than €112 million in Garda station projects from the beginning of 2005 to the end of 2007, which is a significant sum of money by any standards.

I propose to introduce change in the capacity of the State services to deal with these problems in a timely fashion. This triangular relationship between the Office of Public Works, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the housing section of the Garda Síochána, which in some instances becomes a quadrilateral involving the Chief State Solicitor and other agencies, is not working as well as it should. I want to enhance that process to ensure that projects are well managed in an energetic way.

I am grateful to the Deputy for raising the issue. I convey to his constituents and the station party in Dunmanway that I regard this a priority and will make early progress in this regard. I regret that the project was stalled for so long.

On a brighter note, it was a pleasure to visit Bantry and to open the magnificent new headquarters in the company of Deputy O'Donovan and others. I invite anyone who wants to see good quality Garda accommodation to visit the building which is a model for the rest of the country.

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