Dáil debates

Tuesday, 2 November 2010

Adjournment Debate

Garda Stations

9:00 pm

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Justice and Law Reform, the Garda Commissioner, the Office of Public Works, OPW, and local Garda management all agree the current site for Tralee's Garda station is not suitable for a divisional headquarters or appropriate to the policing demands of the Tralee district and Kerry division. For eight years, several new sites have been considered but have been found not to be suitable.

A site at Ballymullen Barracks was identified and considered the most appropriate for several reasons. It was also proposed to move the local driving test centre and part of the Courts Service to the Ballymullen site. Negotiations to ensure the transfer of the site to the Office of Public Works have been under way for some time with the Department of Defence.

While the site is not required by the Department for future purposes, it seems not to be prepared to pass it on free of charge to the OPW but insists on receiving the current value for it. The OPW is not prepared to exchange money for a site it believes is State property and will remain in State ownership if developed as a divisional Garda headquarters. Transfer of the site free of charge would make the site more attractive for the location of a new station and make financial sense.

Policing in Tralee is good with excellent interaction between the local policing committees and Oireachtas and county council members and a good relationship between the several effective community gardaí and local communities. The current premises are not suitable for modern policing requirements as they are overcrowded, lack parking facilities, are inappropriately located and probably pose health and safety risks. While the local police force is efficient and effective, its members feel these problems with the current station may affect the quality of policing they can give.

There is a precedent regarding the free-of-charge transfer of Department of Defence lands to the OPW to facilitate a new Garda station in Ballincollig, County Cork, which is under construction, on the old Collins Barracks site. Will the Minister of State clarify this when replying?

In the southern Garda region, Tralee is recognised as the third busiest station after Anglesea Street, Cork and Henry Street, Limerick, respectively. A new Garda station is critical for policing in Tralee and the surrounding areas. A new divisional headquarters would provide proper accommodation for the technology the Garda must now use to combat increasingly more sophisticated criminals. The local gardaí deserve the same accommodation enjoyed in most other parts of the country. Tralee is rapidly expanding and is one of the largest provincial towns in the country. For a town of its size, it is important that it has an appropriately sized station that can deal with the current challenges faced by its local Garda force.

Photo of Seán HaugheySeán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am taking this Adjournment debate matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Law Reform, Deputy Dermot Ahern. I would like to thank the Deputy for raising this matter on the Adjournment.

With regard to Garda accommodation generally, the position is that the provision of Garda requirements is progressed by the Office of Public Works, on the basis of priorities established by An Garda Síochána. In that context, capital expenditure on Garda accommodation, including all site purchases and new buildings, and the examination of potential sites for the location of Garda stations, comes under the remit of the Office of Public Works. That office has overall responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation.

The Minister for Justice and Law Reform has been informed that the Office of Public Works has been engaged for some time in a process of identifying a suitable site for the construction of a new Garda divisional headquarters in Tralee. In addition, the Minister has been advised by the Office of Public Works that, despite repeated efforts, no suitable privately-owned sites have been identified in Tralee.

As a consequence, the Office of Public Works has subsequently concentrated on the possibility of State-owned property being made available. In particular, it has indicated that a Department of Defence-owned site has been identified as being potentially suitable to meet the accommodation needs of a number of State agencies, including An Garda Síochána.

I understand that the Deputy is aware of the situation and that, in fact, he has put down a written parliamentary question on this specific matter, which was answered by the Minister for Defence earlier today. The Deputy will appreciate from the reply provided to his question, that the Minister for Defence is of the view that military property should be disposed of on a fully commercial basis. In that regard, the funding realised would be used to provide resources to meet the current and future equipment and infrastructure needs of the Defence Forces.

The Office of Public Works has reported that it has been engaged in ongoing negotiations to secure the Department of Defence property in Tralee. The Minister for Justice and Law Reform has confirmed that this is a process he fully supports. In addition, the Minister has indicated that he and his Department will work with the other relevant parties to bring the process to a successful conclusion as quickly as possible.

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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I am glad to be able to raise this matter which is very important for my constituency. It concerns the provision of a new site for a modern Garda station in Clonmel. At the outset, I wish to compliment all the Garda officers in Clonmel station under the command of Superintendent John Courtney. In this day and age, they need a proper facility to be able to carry out all the duties that are required of them.

They need a modern building in order to deal 24 hours a day with all eventualities, including tackling crime, and responding to the needs of the community generally. I compliment Superintendent Courtney for the leading role that his officers play in community policing, including their support for the community alert and neighbourhood watch programmes.

It is incumbent on the OPW to acquire a new site. The current building, which is owned by the county council, is antiquated. It is adjacent to the county council buildings which in turn require additional space. The council has rented property all over Clonmel to try to cater for its own needs. We need a modern site of which many are available in the town. I have identified a number of good sites in town to the Office of Public Works and the Department of Justice and Law Reform, which could provide a one-stop-shop facility.

The population of Clonmel is approximately 17,000. It is the second biggest inland town in the country. In addition, it covers a large area of the county as well as part of County Waterford across the River Suir. It also covers rural districts including Kilcash, Kilsheelin and Mullinahone.

Two years ago, the then Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Brian Lenihan, visited the constituency along with the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Mansergh. The Minister saw for himself that the current Garda station is totally unsuitable. The public office area is tiny and totally unsatisfactory both for Garda personnel and the general public who must use it. The lack of privacy is an issue, and although Garda officers do their best for the public it is not suitable.

We recently received funding from the OPW to carry out minor upgrades on certain aspects of the station, but the building is really sub-standard and totally unsuitable. Therefore a new accessible site is needed, which can be used as a one-stop-shop for everything from a Garda front-desk to a vehicle pound. A new facility could also provide all technical aspects associated with the fight against crime. We must fully support the Garda Síochána in the fight against crime in rural and urban areas.

The public in Clonmel has a good relationship with the Garda, which we welcome and support. The joint policing sub-committee had a meeting this evening and I wish its members well. I also attend that committee when I can and there is a good relationship between both public and Garda representatives on that body. I welcome the new Garda chief superintendent to Thurles.

Some funds have been provided recently but they only covered a small aspect of what is required overall to bring about the new facility. The current location was suitable at one time but is no longer so because the town has outgrown the station's capacity. A greenfield site, of which there are a number, is required. In addition, there are vacant factories and an old telecom site in Clonmel. Such premises could be used to build a modern facility with sufficient parking, a suitable public office and other areas for consultation with legal representatives, as well as secure areas in which to store impounded vehicles. A modern facility could be developed on a greenfield site, which is imperative for the future of policing in South Tipperary, including Clonmel. The Garda Síochána needs proper facilities to allow its members to carry out their duties. They have an onerous task which requires our support and they need modern facilities, including the tools of the trade, to deal with the sophisticated crimes perpetrated by gangsters in South Tipperary and other parts of the country.

The Garda is willing, ready and able to respond but needs the tools of the trade to do so. Above all it needs proper, decent facilities for the superintendent and his team, including clerical staff. In that way, they can carry out their duties to service the people of South Tipperary in accordance with health and safety regulations.

Photo of Seán HaugheySeán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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On behalf of the Minister for Justice and Law Reform, Deputy Dermot Ahern, I would like to thank Deputy Mattie McGrath for raising this matter on the Adjournment.

The Deputy will be aware that the provision of new Garda stations and Garda accommodation generally is a matter for the Office of Public Works. The provision of such accommodation is progressed by the Office of Public Works on the basis of priorities established by An Garda Síochána. In that context, capital expenditure on Garda accommodation, including all site purchases and new buildings, and the examination of potential sites for the location of Garda stations, comes under the remit of the Office of Public Works.

The Minister for Justice and Law Reform has been advised that the Office of Public Works has previously examined a number of potential sites in Clonmel with a view to providing a new Garda district headquarters. Unfortunately, none of the sites assessed to date has been deemed suitable for Garda requirements. The Minister has also been informed that the Office of Public Works is continuing to examine all available options for the provision of a Garda station in Clonmel with a view to progressing this matter.

The Minister also understands that in the interim, the Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, Deputy Mansergh, has recently announced that - as part of a national programme agreed with the Garda authorities covering around 170 stations - three cells each in Tipperary and Cahir Garda stations, and four in Clonmel, are to be refurbished by the OPW over the next 12 months or so.

The Minister is also aware that the Deputy has expressed a strong interest in having a new station built in Clonmel. The Minister supports the project and it will be pursued in the context of the availability of a site which meets the needs of An Garda Síochána, its identified accommodation priorities and in the light of available resources.

The Dáil adjourned at 9.10 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 3 November 2010.