Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this issue which is topical in the context of the reforms which the Minister for Justice and Equality is seeking to introduce in the structure and management of An Garda Síochána. I believe the rank and file members of An Garda Síochána do exemplary work.

I raise this issue on the basis of the many changes introduced by way of the amalgamation of districts. In my county, the districts of Askeaton and Newcastle West have been amalgamated into an area which geographically is larger than County Monaghan. The Minister will be aware that the Newcastle West district stretches from the town of Bruff to Tarbert and from Charleville to Mountcollins which, geographically, is a very large area. The situation in many other districts is no different.

I would like in raising this issue to start a conversation in relation to the manner in which Garda stations are selected for refurbishment and extension and in regard to the construction of new Garda stations. For example, the manner in which school building projects are prioritised could be considered in this context. The school building unit of the Department of Education and Skills prioritises projects based on need. In many cases, projects are achieved by way of public private partnership and other models rather than in the conventional way.

In Newcastle West Garda station, which was constructed in the 1970s and has never been extended, except by way of a prefab gifted to the town following the visit of former US President, George W. Bush, to Dromoland Castle, there are 66 gardaí, 11 sergeants, one inspector, one superintendent and ten civilians. As a result of a lack of investment in this station for more than 30 years the building is no longer fit for purpose, with prisoners often congregating in the same area as civilians and civilian staff, thus making the work of the gardaí in that station very difficult. Lest any of my friends in the fourth estate would say I have a vested interest in this, I should declare that I live next-door to Newcastle West Garda station and that when a young child I was responsible for breaking a window in that station. I suppose that constitutes a vested interest.

Eamonn Maloney (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Was the Deputy arrested?

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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No, I was not. Some members of the media might accuse me of cronyism if I did not declare that we owned the property next door to the Garda Station. That being said, there is a dire need for investment in the property concerned. I have discussed this issue with the Minister of State in the Office of Public Works. As I said earlier, we need to examine new ways of approaching this issue. I am aware that the OPW is responsible for the maintenance of Garda stations and for other projects up to a certain level. After that, such matters are for appraisal by the Garda housing unit.

The fact the OPW owns and manages Garda stations and that the Department of Justice and Equality in the context of its role with the Garda authorities also has some responsibility in this area makes unclear the procedures that need to be followed to get stations off the ground in the first instance. Is it adequate that there would be only one shower and one toilet for the number of personnel I cited earlier? No, it is not. Is it appropriate that prisoners are being brought from court in Newcastle West into an inadequate holding environment? No, it is not. Is it appropriate that they are being brought through the public foyer where people are waiting to have passport forms signed? No, it is not.

I would be delighted if the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, would take the opportunity during any future visit to Limerick to visit Newcastle West, which is an amalgam of two districts. At the time of the proposed amalgamation a commitment was given that the station would be refurbished to accommodate the additional gardaí but that has not happened.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy O'Donovan for raising this matter. The question of the supports An Garda Síochána receives and the need for modernisation and change systems are very much on the agenda today. What the Deputy raised, namely, the question of the allocation of resources for new Garda stations is an issue that applies and needs to be dealt with in many parts of the country. The Deputy spoke in particular about Newcastle West.

The Deputy made a number of points about new methods and more transparency in decision-making. He made the comparison with school building programmes, which was a good comparison. If there are lessons to be learned there about how building projects are managed, they should, and can, be learned.

The programme of refurbishment and replacement of Garda accommodation throughout the country is determined on the basis of accommodation priorities, which are, in the first instance, established by An Garda Síochána. Of course, this must be put into the context of the recession and the difficulties in regard to capital funding in recent years. I am glad to say that with the improving economic situation there is greater capital funding available than hitherto for these various projects.

As the Deputy said, the provision of Garda accommodation, including refurbishment works, site purchases, the provision of new buildings and the examination of potential sites for the location of Garda stations, comes under the remit of the Office of Public Works, which has responsibility for capital expenditure on Garda accommodation. Garda accommodation projects are progressed in the context of the availability of funding within the OPW Vote and in the light of the priority attached to each project by the Garda authorities. I am very keen to see a clear list of priorities from the Garda Síochána, which is determined by it and is publicly available so that we know where a project is placed on the list. As capital becomes available, a project will receive attention.

I am advised that proposals for refurbishment works at Garda stations throughout the State, including Newcastle West Garda station, are examined on an ongoing basis. As I said, they are progressed in the context of An Garda Síochána's identified accommodation priorities and the availability of funding. There are three parts. I have been told by the Garda authorities that the allocation of all Garda resources, including accommodation, transport and personnel, is subject to ongoing analysis and review to ensure that the best possible use is made of available resources. In that context, the Deputy will be aware that in this year's budget, I announced a further capital investment of €42 million in 2015 to provide for the construction of a number of new Garda divisional headquarters. I know that is not what the Deputy asked about but I make the point that capital is going into the Garda Vote for the development of new divisional headquarters in Galway, Wexford and Kevin Street in Dublin, which is important. That is being done using the methodology I described, namely, a combination of work between An Garda Síochána and the Office of Public Works. That procurement process is at an advanced stage. This is a very significant development in Garda infrastructure, as the Deputy will know. An additional €10 million has been provided for Garda transport in the year 2014-15, which shows the commitment of this Government to improve the facilities.

The Deputy made a very persuasive case in regard to Newcastle West. I will forward the details of what he said to the OPW and An Garda Síochána and will determine precisely where Newcastle West is on the list of priorities in regard to the refurbishment of accommodation.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for her reply. I agree that the priority list needs to be very clear. In that context, public representatives like myself should be able to have an input into it in the same way we can make a case for a school in our constituencies which, as constituency representatives, we do all the time.

However, I go back to the central point in regard to the current system of allocating resources while welcoming the fact capital has been made available and the Minister and her predecessor have recommenced Garda recruitment, which had not happened for eight years and which needs to be acknowledged. Several districts around the country were amalgamated and there was an understanding at the time in regard to accommodation needs. In this case, 89 people are working in a building which is essentially a bungalow built in the 1970s and not fit for purpose. I am sure that is replicated throughout the country. I know there are budgetary constraints and it is in that context that the Minister might see if a new model could be considered through public private partnership. I attended the opening of a school in Doon, County Limerick, last week. It was a public private partnership and was opened by the Minister's colleague, the Minister of Education and Skills. It was one of a bundle of schools built, operated and maintained by the private sector for use by the public sector, so this can be done more cost efficiently.

I know Garda divisional headquarters has been refurbished, including Henry Street in Limerick city, which the Minister visited recently. Her visit was very welcome in the context of what the gardaí in Limerick have done over many years. I again invite the Minister to visit the Garda station in Newcastle West when she gets the opportunity to see the conditions with which the men and women, civilian and Garda personnel, as well as the public must contend in 2014. They deserve something better in a district headquarters which covers an area larger than most counties. As I said, it is larger than County Monaghan. I ask the Minister to visit at the first available opportunity to see the station for herself because there is no doubt the conditions are not conducive to a proper working environment for the gardaí, the civilian staff and the public in 2014.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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On the next occasion I am in Limerick, I will visit Newcastle West to see the station, as the Deputy described it. I would like to make the point on the day when there is a very heavy critique underway in regard to many aspects of the organisation of An Garda Síochána that when I visited Limerick, one of the reports I listened to was about how it had dealt with crime in Limerick and how in 21 out of 24 murders somebody had been convicted, which is some record. In the middle of so much difficulty, it is a record of which to be very proud and one which we should acknowledge.

The Deputy made the point that where districts have amalgamated perhaps we should look, in particular, at those districts having a priority in terms of refurbishment of stations and premises. I will certainly consider that point. I intend to meet my colleague, the Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, to discuss what the ongoing approach should be to investment in the refurbishment of Garda stations throughout the country. As I said, I will revert to the Deputy in regard to the situation he described and on where Newcastle West is on the list.