John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am taking this matter for the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, who regrets his absence but who has official commitments at the same time. Both he and I thank Deputy Sherlock for raising it.

It is a good issue for a Topical Issue debate because we all will be aware of villages around the country where there are Garda stations, many of which are still operational and have residences attached or in their grounds. Most of them are in central locations in villages or on the entrance to villages and tend to be landmark buildings where an improvement and use of the accommodation by a garda and his or her family would bring many benefits to the community as well as to the station itself.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána. Furthermore, the programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda accommodation is progressed by the Garda authorities working in close co-operation with the OPW. The Minister has no direct responsibility, as the Deputy pointed out.

There has been significant investment in Garda resources throughout the State in recent years. Considerable 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 to 2021 to upgrade Garda premises.

The Garda station building and refurbishment programme is an ambitious five-year programme based on agreed Garda priorities which will benefit more than 30 locations and includes €60 million of Exchequer funding. The programme is providing new stations and modernising older stations at key locations around the country, ensuring a safe, modern working environment for members and staff of the Garda as well as fit-for-purpose facilities for visitors, victims and suspects.

Dwelling units, known as official accommodation properties, are a matter for the Garda authorities in conjunction with the OPW, and the Minister for Justice and Equality has no direct role in these matters. I understand that the Minister has been informed by the Garda authorities that it is a matter for respective divisional officers in An Garda Síochána in the first instance to identify official accommodation properties that require attention before they can be allocated to a member of An Garda Síochána, having regard to the policing needs of the division.

I understand that the Minister is further informed by the Garda authorities that the most recently available survey of official accommodation was completed by An Garda Síochána in conjunction with the OPW in April of 2018. At that point, there were 221 official accommodation properties throughout the State. These properties are attached to or form part of the curtilage of Garda stations, mainly in rural areas. Of this total, the Garda authorities advise that at the time of the survey, 99 official accommodation properties were inhabited and 122 were vacant. Of the vacant units, 12 were considered to be habitable. I am informed that it was considered that the remaining units would require significant investment but that to ascertain the costs involved in bringing these official accommodation properties up to standard, detailed surveys of each property would be required. Any such survey would be a matter for An Garda Síochána in conjunction with the OPW. I understand that An Garda Síochána has advised the Minister that it liaises closely with the OPW on all matters relating to the Garda estate, including official accommodation, having regard to the funding available and the accommodation priorities of An Garda Síochána.

Of the 122 vacant premises, 12 are habitable. That means 110 need substantial work. It would be a wise investment by the OPW. I will certainly bring the point up with the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, to see that a programme to redevelop Garda accommodation properties throughout the country would take effect.

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