David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality who, unfortunately, cannot be in the Chamber for this debate, I thank the Deputy for raising this very important matter. The Tánaiste is aware that a number of significant fire and health and safety issues have been identified in Sligo Garda station and believes the necessary remedial action should be taken without delay to rectify the situation. The Deputy will appreciate that the Office of Public Works has primary responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation and works closely with the Garda authorities in this regard. In that context, I understand the Garda authorities have made the Office of Public Works aware of the situation with a view to ensuring remedial action will be taken.

The Deputy will be aware of the significant efforts being made by the Government to enhance the working environment generally for members of An Garda Síochána and the major investment committed to under the capital plan for the period 2016 to 2021 to upgrade Garda premises, the Garda fleet and Garda ICT infrastructure. A Programme for a Partnership Government also commits the Government to increasing the strength of An Garda Síochána to ensure a strong and visible police presence in the community. In summary, the Government is committed to continuing the accelerated recruitment programme with a view to increasing Garda numbers to 15,000, doubling the Garda Reserve and increasing further civilianisation to free up more gardaí to focus on front-line policing services.

The programme also recognises that members of An Garda Síochána must have the modern technology and other resources, including fit-for-purpose buildings, necessary to do their job and notes that the capital plan for the period 2016 to 2021 secured resources in this regard. In October 2015 the Tánaiste announced, in conjunction with the Minister of State at the Office of Public Works, details of An Garda Síochána’s building and refurbishment programme for the period 2016 to 2021 which includes over €80 million of Exchequer funding as part of the Government’s capital plan for the period 2016 to 2021, as well as a major public private partnership project which will include the delivery of a new Garda station in Sligo. Unfortunately, as the Tánaiste recently advised the Deputy, negotiations on the acquisition by the Office of Public Works of a site originally identified for the purpose of providing the proposed new station in Sligo did not proceed to a successful conclusion and efforts will now be made to identify an alternative site for acquisition in order that the development can proceed.

The projects comprehended by the building and refurbishment programme are in addition to the major projects under way, including the three Garda divisional headquarters which are under construction in Galway, Wexford town and Kevin Street in Dublin, at a total cost of €100 million, and which are scheduled for completion in late 2017 and early 2018. This major investment underlines the Government’s commitment to the provision of a modern working environment for gardaí, as well as fit-for-purpose facilities for visitors, victims and suspects.

I now return to the situation in Sligo. In the short run the solution lies in addressing the particular issues that have arisen at the existing station and, in the long-run, the construction of a new state-of-the-art regional headquarters in Sligo. I assure the Deputy the Tánaiste will do everything in her power to support both An Garda Síochána and the Office of Public Works in delivering solutions to both issues.

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