Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I offer my condolences and the condolences of the Government to the family of Elisha Gault, whose body was found in Carrick-on-Suir. I offer my sympathy to her parents, Cameron and Gráinne, and to her extended family and I pay tribute to the Garda Síochána, the Coast Guard and the hundreds of volunteers in the south Tipperary area who engaged in the search. It was a dreadful tragedy for the family and the community.

I thank Deputy McGrath for raising this important issue. As he will be aware, the programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda accommodation is progressed by the Garda authorities working in close co-operation with the Office of Public Works. Deputy McGrath will also be aware of the significant efforts being made by the Government to enhance the working environment for members of An Garda Síochána and of the major investment that has been committed under the Capital Plan 2016-2021 to upgrade Garda premises. The Garda building and refurbishment programme, an ambitious five-year programme based on agreed Garda priorities, continues to benefit over 30 locations around the country. The programme includes over €60 million of Exchequer funding as well as a major public private partnership to deliver stations in Macroom and Sligo and, from Deputy McGrath's perspective, more importantly, at Clonmel.

Two site transfers are involved in the Clonmel development. It is proposed the new Clonmel development will be built on part of the former Kickham Barracks site, which has been acquired by Tipperary County Council, and arrangements to transfer the appropriate ownership to the Office of Public Works are well in train. In addition, the OPW owns a building immediately adjacent to the entrance and a portion of that site needs to be transferred to the county council in order to facilitate the overall development of the site. An important element of the plan involves the widening of the existing main entrance to the barracks site. The OPW has actively engaged with the council and a revised entrance arrangement solution has been identified. In addition, the council has demolished an existing site hut in order to bring clarity to the site boundary. I was pleased to visit the area before Christmas. The Office of Public Works is engaging with the council in order to complete the necessary legal documentation regarding the two site transfers involved.

I understand that acquisition by the OPW of the site for Macroom is complete and that acquisition of sites for Clonmel and Sligo are well advanced. Once completed, the development of the public private partnership bundle will be progressed actively under the auspices of the National Development Finance Agency. Pending development of the new station in Clonmel, a project to upgrade the cells and custody facilities in the existing Garda station is well advanced. This comprises the refurbishment of four cells to modern standards and the installation of a prisoner shower facility. Arrangements to source alternative accommodation for locker facilities during the construction are being finalised by the Office of Public Works.

I do not disagree with anything Deputy McGrath has said about the conditions in Clonmel Garda station. I am really anxious that this matter be advanced and progressed at the earliest opportunity. I assure Deputy McGrath that I am fully committed to proceeding with the major investment programme that aims to provide new Garda stations and to modernise older Garda stations at key locations around the country, including Clonmel, in order that we can ensure a safe, modern working environment for Garda as well as fit-for-purpose facilities for visitors, victims, suspects and those engaged in the daily business at a Garda station.

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