Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I cannot express enough how vital it is. The retired superintendent, Mr. John Courtney, the chief superintendent Catherine Kehoe and all the inspectors and officers need it. It is a draconian building totally unfit for purpose in every way. The only good thing about it is its location. It is located in the right place. However, An Garda Síochána does not own the building. It belongs to the county council. The move to the Army barracks is necessary for a number of reasons. Above all, it is primarily for An Garda Síochána and the public. We need to secure that new site. I would have thought that it would have been purchased from the county council at this stage because we need a modern district headquarters with all the different aspects. It would be lovely to have something like the equine unit placed there when we have a spacious site.

I am pressing this issue on the Minister. I look forward to her visit at the earliest opportunity so she can see for herself. I accompanied the former Minister, Mr. Brian Lenihan, there when he was the Minister, God rest him. It is so bad and so unfit for purpose. The gardaí, the lay staff and the public are all entitled to some modicum of a decent building for public service.

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