Dáil debates

Tuesday, 11 July 2017

6:40 pm

Photo of Tony McLoughlinTony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle and his office for selecting for discussion what is an important issue on the ground in Sligo and a significant issue for the men and women of the Garda there who have to work day and night in a dangerous, unsafe and outdated station.

During October 2015, I was delighted to be able to announce to my constituents that, after much negotiation and representation from my office, County Sligo was to be allocated a new regional Garda headquarters under the Garda capital investment programme. That Sligo was earmarked to receive this new top-of-the-range Garda facility lifted the spirits in the Garda force locally and gave a vote of confidence to Sligo in general as a regional town which the Government was keen on investing in and improving. I thank the Minister for his attendance at this debate but, much to my disappointment at the time, the progress made on this project since the original announcement by the former Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Fitzgerald, has been unacceptable.

It is clear to me from the OPW's responses that I have received to parliamentary questions that there have been few or no developments in real terms on delivering on this issue since 2015. I have been advised that the site allocation period for acquiring a suitable location in Sligo for a new Garda station has been longer than anticipated and has been under way since January 2017.

Why has this only been the case with the Sligo Garda station? While I understand that the former Minister reaffirmed last February that the delivery of a new regional Garda station to Sligo remained a Government priority, we are still no clearer on questions like where the site will be located, when construction will start and how long it will take before the people we trust to uphold law and order in my constituency of Sligo, Leitrim, south Donegal and west Cavan are given the safe working conditions they deserve to be able conduct their work.

The Minister will be aware that the lack of progress with the new Garda station is holding up the development of two other stations, one in Macroom and the other in Clonmel, because they are lumped in as part of a single public private partnership project. For some reason, those two projects are at a much more advanced stage than the Sligo project.

The urgency on my part regarding this issue comes after reading a damning report conducted by Michael Reilly & Associates, which the Garda Representative Association commissioned this year to evaluate the overall health and safety problems at the station in question. The report's findings are shocking and raise several issues of concern that only a new station would address. For example, the report identified serious health and safety issues, including infestation by rodents, ventilation problems, poor heating and dampness, limited and inadequate toilet and shower facilities, leaking toilets, failures in building compliance, fire safety failures, failures in HSE health and safety procedures and requirements, hazardous safety issues, cramped public spaces, limited and outdated cell accommodation, inadequate canteen facilities, lack of interviewing rooms, no garage facilities, poor office accommodation, little or no IT infrastructure, limited file storage areas, no purpose-built armoury and many other serious items of concern.

From reading the report, it is clear that gardaí in Sligo are not being given the tools, resources and standards required to do their jobs effectively in combating crime in the Sligo-Leitrim division.

Will the Minister explain to me what is happening with regard to the development of the new Garda station in Sligo? Will he explain to me why there has been such a long delay in Sligo as opposed to the other two areas? Will he advise me as to when we can expect a site to be identified and construction to start on the new Garda station in Sligo?

6:50 pm

Photo of Seán Ó FearghaílSeán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Does the Minister have good news for Sligo?

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I acknowledge the contribution of the Deputy in raising this issue of importance. As Deputy McLoughlin will be aware, the Office of Public Works, OPW, has primary responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation and works closely with the Garda authorities in this regard. As Minister, I do not have any direct role in these matters.

The programme for Government recognises that An Garda Síochána must also have the modern technology and other resources, including fit-for-purpose buildings, necessary to do its job. The programme notes that the capital plan for 2016 to 2021 secured resources in this regard.

Deputy McLoughlin will be aware of the significant efforts being made by Government to enhance the working environment generally for members of An Garda Síochána and of the major investment which has been committed under the capital plan for 2016 to 2021 to upgrade Garda premises, the Garda fleet and Garda ICT infrastructure. This is evidenced by the Garda station building and refurbishment programme 2016-2021, which is an ambitious five-year programme which will benefit more than 30 locations around the country and includes more than €60 million of Exchequer funding as part of the capital plan, as well as a major public private partnership project. Under the programme, new Garda stations will be provided in a number of locations, including Sligo, Macroom and Clonmel, by means of public private partnerships.

I know the Garda station in Sligo very well. I know it needs refurbishment. I would go further and say that it needs replacement. In that regard, I am advised by the Garda authorities that in the context of the public private partnership, the Office of Public Works is progressing the acquisition of sites, including a site for the Sligo development. The Deputy will be aware that, earlier this year, the Office of Public Works published advertisements in Sligo with a view towards acquiring a suitable and appropriate site.

Pending the development of the new station in Sligo, the acquisition of the site and the building of a modern state-of-the-art facility, I understand that local Garda management and the Office of Public Works have been working closely to develop proposals to improve the accommodation situation in the existing station in Sligo. This includes exploring options for the relocation of certain functions outside the station and reconfiguring the premises to meet the needs of front-line operational personnel and to address space or health and safety concerns. I also understand that other short-term measures have been taken to address and improve the accommodation situation at the station, for example, works to refurbish fully the toilets above the public office were completed in July of last year and a new industrial standard kitchen facility has been installed.

I assure the House that the Government is fully committed to proceeding with its major investment programme which aims to provide new Garda stations and to modernise older stations at key locations around the country, including Sligo, to ensure a safe, modern working environment for gardaí as well as fit-for-purpose facilities for visitors, victims, suspects and anyone making use of the Garda station in Sligo or in any other part of the country.

Photo of Tony McLoughlinTony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for his reply but it does not answer the questions which I raised. The Minister is quite right that the OPW has a major role to play in this. As Minister for Justice and Equality, he will be aware of the needs of An Garda Síochána and the environment in which gardaí work at the moment and he has outlined some of those issues. He will be aware that gardaí must have proper facilities to combat crime, which they are doing. I acknowledge, on the record, the work which An Garda Síochána is doing under very difficult circumstances. Will the Minister intervene with the OPW to ascertain why there has been such a delay in locating a site? A number of sites have been identified and it is time for the new site to be identified very quickly and then we can get on with the other areas in the country.

It has been brought to my attention that some of the senior Garda personnel are to be transferred to another site in Finisklin. This has not happened. Perhaps the Minister would take note of that in future, along with the need for extension, investment and upgrading of the Garda station in Tubbercurry, County Sligo. This is vitally important. There are a number of issues there which are very concerning for An Garda Síochána. I have been highlighting these issues for a number of years. I have been told about the issues in Tubbercurry, the issues around the site which was to be occupied by senior Garda personnel in Finisklin and the need to vacate a part of the Garda station in order that there would be more room for the gardaí on duty in Sligo Garda station. There are a number of issues. I appeal to the Minister. It is vitally important the Department of Justice and Equality and the OPW get together and make an immediate decision in respect of the site required for Sligo Garda station.

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I very much regret if Deputy McLoughlin is disappointed with the answers which I have endeavoured to give him. I assure him of the help and assistance of the Department of Justice and Equality and my office, and of my own interest in this issue. The issue, as I see it, is the acquisition of a local site in Sligo. Perhaps the local Deputy could assist and use his good offices to assist in the provision of a local site for a Garda station. I assure him that the Government will provide the appropriate resources for the construction of the Garda station. Again, I assure the Deputy and the House that the OPW and local Garda management continue to work closely to improve the accommodation in the existing station in Sligo, which I acknowledge is inadequate. In the circumstances, it is not fit for purpose. Actions of a short-term and interim nature are proceeding. These actions have been taken to address the issue and to improve the accommodation in Sligo.

I reassure the House that the Government remains fully committed to proceeding with a major investment programme which aims to provide a number of new state-of-the-art Garda stations in conjunction with a number of new courthouses. I had the pleasure and privilege of opening one such courthouse yesterday. I assure Deputy McLoughlin that it is a priority of this Government to modernise older stations at key locations, including Sligo, to ensure the provision of a safe modern working environment for gardaí as well as fit-for-purpose facilities for all who use them. I have an obligation to ensure the provision of these things. I ask the Deputy to keep in contact with me on this matter.