Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his report. I have one or two questions to pose to him. Is he aware that gardaí in Sligo have given notice of their intention to vacate the dangerous building on 6 October? I have met the GRA and many gardaí who are operating from the station in Sligo on a daily basis and they have serious concerns. They have also notified what needs to be done in the short term. Perhaps the Minister of State might indicate the plans in place to relocate gardaí in Sligo to temporary accommodation until work on the new building is complete? I know that he has announced the provision of a new regional Garda station in Sligo. There are some hiccups, but this issue will have to be addressed by the Office of Public Works in the short term and in very quick time. It is vitally important that a site be identified for the regional headquarters of the Sligo-Leitrim division and that we move ahead with the development and building of this facility. I hope that in the short term I will other responses to allay my concerns. I am speaking on behalf of many of the gardaí who use the facility in Sligo. There are many other issues of which the Minister of State is well aware because I gave the Minister a copy of the report on Sligo Garda station and the divisional headquarters for Sligo-Leitrim on Pearse Road which was asked for by the GRA. It is important that this issue be addressed in the short term. In the context of the announcement made on the new development, perhaps the Minister of State might like to respond.

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