Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am slightly disappointed with the Minister of State's reply. In January of this year the station lost its conference room. It was redesignated as a regional cybercomputer examination room. Even though the redesignation happened in January of last year, the posts have yet to be advertised. I accept that is not the Minister of State's responsibility but is a justice issue. The loss of that conference room means that training is now taking place in hired hotel rooms in the town. IT training is taking place in the Army barracks in Athlone, which means subsistence and travel payments are made to the gardaí who must travel to the location. We have a community policing unit which comprises of one sergeant, six gardaí and a clerical officer who are working out of a prisoner interview room. We expect our sergeant with responsibility for community policing and six gardaí to work from the room where prisoners are interviewed. A child protection unit is due to be established but it cannot be because no office is available for it. Proposals have been submitted as to how this could be addressed. The only issue to be dealt with is for those proposals to receive approval from the OPW to advance, and that will address the serious capacity issues in Mullingar Garda station.

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