Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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7. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when Stepaside Garda station will reopen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44071/17]

Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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When will Stepaside Garda station be reopened? It follows a decision that caused much public controversy. Let us contrast this decision with the tangible lack of action in the advancement of work on a new regional Garda headquarters in Sligo where there is no running water and no shower facilities in the Garda station. The cells have been condemned to the extent that members of the Garda who arrest individuals must transport them 15 miles to the station in Ballymote.

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that refurbishment of Garda accommodation is progressed by the Garda authorities in close co-operation with the Office of Public Works which has responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.

As the Deputy will be aware, A Programme for a Partnership Government commits to a pilot scheme to reopen six Garda stations, urban and rural, to determine possible positive impacts that such openings will have on criminal activity, with special emphasis on burglaries, theft and public order offences.

I recently published the second interim report of the Garda Commissioner which recommended that the former Stepaside Garda station in Dublin be reopened on a pilot basis. It indicated that, subject to further analysis, the Commissioner was likely to recommend in the final report the inclusion of the former stations at Leighlinbridge, County Carlow and Donard, County Wicklow in the pilot scheme. If a second station is to be reopened in Dublin, the report indicates that the Commissioner is likely, subject to further analysis, to recommend that the former station at Rush, County Dublin be included in what will be a pilot scheme.

I am informed that An Garda Síochána is liaising with the Office of Public Works on the proposed reopening of the former Garda station at Stepaside.

I understand the timeframe for reopening the station is dependent on a number of factors, including the brief of requirements from An Garda Síochána, the extent of the required refurbishment of the station based on current building regulations; the need to comply with fire regulations and provide disability access to the station. There are also agreed standards and specifications for Garda detention areas and custody suites which would have to be incorporated into the refurbishment. Once the specification has been agreed to, the works will go to tender and commence once the contract has been placed.

Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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The acting Garda Commissioner recently told the Committee of Public Accounts that the decision on Stepaside Garda station had already been made, that the OPW was pressing ahead and at an advanced stage with the project. The Minister might want to tell his colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, to send a tweet that perhaps it might never happen, certainly if the rate of progress of work on Sligo regional Garda station is anything to go by. In Sligo an existing, functional Garda station and regional headquarters responsible for policing in counties Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan and Louth, with 140 gardaí working in it, with an assistant commissioner, a superintendent and a chief superintendent, does not have running water, cells or shower facilities, despite the fact that towards the end of the summer many heroic gardaí jumped into the Garavogue river and averted disaster by saving four lives. Will the Minister, Deputy Shane Ross' Garda station in Stepaside join the queue behind the station in Sligo which is so dysfunctional, notwithstanding the difficulties for existing serving staff in not having appropriate working conditions, and from where prisoners have to be sent 15 miles. The Minister, Deputy Charles Flanagan, has pointed to the standards required to be met in holding prisoners. By contrast, there are probably umpteen Garda stations within 15 miles of Stepaside with umpteen showers, drinking water and active cells. Will the Minister give a commitment that while Stepaside Garda station is at the beginning this process, since work on Sligo Garda station is surely at a much more advanced stage, we can look forward to having a new station there before we press ahead with the reopening of the Garda station in Stepaside?

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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There are no parallels between the issue of the reopening of the Garda station in south County Dublin which is the subject of the question-----

Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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That is for sure.

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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-----and the provision of the proposed new Garda station in Sligo, in which I know that the Deputy has expressed an interest for some time. The Garda station building and refurbishment programme 2016 to 2021, an ambitious five-year programme that will benefit over 30 locations throughout the country, includes an investment of over €60 million of Exchequer funding as part of the capital plan and a major public private partnership project. The new Garda station will be provided in Sligo. The OPW placed advertisements in local and national newspapers earlier this year to secure a suitable site for the Sligo development, seeking expressions of interest from property owners and developers. Returns were received in the spring. The OPW, together with Garda estate management, reviewed the proposals submitted earlier this year. A number of suitable sites have been identified as possible options for the development in Sligo. The OPW is actively progressing the acquisition of a suitable site and it is understood the aim is to reach agreement on the purchase shortly. This may not need to be said from my perspective, but, as somebody who is on the ground locally on a regular basis, the Deputy may well be in a position to assist the State authority in reaching agreement on the purchase of a suitable site. I assure him of my interest in the matter. It is important that we advance the project in Sligo having regard to the fact that funding is in place.

Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I am available to help, not that I have a site, but as a former practising auctioneer in the area, I know that there is no shortage of potential sites and that people made submissions following the call and the placing of adverts. Perhaps, in order to progress the project, the relevant parties in the OPW might like to contact me, as well as Deputy Eamon Scanlon, Deputy Tony McLoughlin of Fine Gael and Deputy Martin Kenny of Sinn Féin. I am sure the other three Deputies will not mind me saying we will be delighted to push the issue as a matter of the utmost urgency. I appreciate the Minister's offer in that regard. I will expect a call from somebody to assemble the four of us. If approaches can be made locally to have the matter pushed urgently, they certainly will be.

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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There is work to be done locally and I trust that the Deputy will assist. From a national perspective, I will work closely with the appropriate agencies to ensure the matter will be advanced, having regard to the urgency of the issue which has been ongoing for many years. Advancing it is overdue and I want to see it happen by working both locally and nationally. This is a project in Sligo which has the support of all of the local Deputies, including the Deputy and Deputies Tony McLoughlin and Eamon Scanlon.