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

I speak on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, who cannot be here as he is on official business. He sends his apologies. He and I thank Deputy Cassells for raising this matter in the House.

The Deputy will be aware that 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. The Minister for Justice and Equality has no direct role in these matters.

Significant efforts are being made by the Government to enhance the working environment generally for members of An Garda Síochána and major investment has been committed under the capital plan 2016-21 to upgrade Garda premises. The Garda station building and refurbishment programme 2016-21 is an ambitious five-year programme based on agreed Garda priorities that will benefit more than 30 locations around the State. It includes more than €60 million of Exchequer funding as part of Government’s capital plan 2016-21 as well as a major public private partnership project. The programme is providing new stations and modernising older stations at key locations around the State, ensuring safe, modern working environments for members and staff of An Garda Síochána as well as fit-for-purpose facilities for visitors, victims and suspects.

The Minister for Justice and Equality has been informed by the Garda authorities that the divisional headquarters for the Meath division is based in Navan. The programme 2016-21 does not include the development of a new divisional headquarters for County Meath. Provision is made, however, under the programme for significant works at the existing divisional headquarters involving the complete demolition of the existing cell block as well as the construction of a new cell block and overhead office accommodation at Navan Garda station. The Minister is further informed that An Garda Síochána is actively engaged with the OPW to progress these works.

The Minister confirms that the Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the State in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, to provide reassurance to citizens and to deter crime. To achieve this, the Government has put in place a plan for an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021, comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Garda Reserve members and 4,000 civilians. We are making real, tangible progress on achieving this goal.

The allocation and management of resources, including Garda personnel, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. The Minister has been informed that the strength of the Meath division on 30 April 2018, the latest date for which information is readily available, was 312. He has been further informed that there are also 16 Garda Reserve members and 30 Garda civilian staff attached to the Meath division. When appropriate, the work of local gardaí is supported by a number of national units such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the armed support units, the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.

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