James Heffernan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

It is good to see a young person being elevated to such a high office.

That is good for young people involved in politics. I say well done to the Minister of State.

On the issue at hand, namely, rural Garda stations that have been closed, some of which have been sold and others that are in limbo, the closure of some of the stations was announced on budget day a couple of years ago. The Department of Justice and Equality sneaked it in at a time when far more controversial measures were being taken, such as cuts to respite care grants - the Minister of State had some difficulty with the cuts - and cuts to child benefit. At the time the argument was made by local communities and gardaí that it would cost as much to close the stations as to keep them open. I do not know if the case has been proven, but I would like to hear the cost of insurance and maintenance of those Garda stations that are now closed and what the plans are for them. I understand some Garda stations have achieved good prices on the open market but that is dependent on their location and condition.

I spoke to some departmental officials about community and voluntary groups taking ownership or a temporary lease on Garda stations for use as youth facilities or for the elderly. Many towns with Garda stations that are now closed lack community halls, for example. The Minister of State, who is from County Wicklow, will be aware of the situation. Communities always seem to be raising money to build a new community hall or other facility. I hope the Department and the Office of Public Works could work together on the matter and that if decent plans are put in place by local communities, they would be considered before the sale of such premises.

The Garda station in my town was closed. It is adjacent to the soccer pitch, which is maintained to a high standard by the recently reformed soccer club. The problem is that the club has no changing facilities or dressing rooms. At the moment players get changed in their cars and that is not ideal in the winter when the weather can be wet and cold. The response the club received from the Department is that consideration has been given to the proposal but it is not considered feasible. The recently reformed soccer club involves a good bunch of young lads like the Minister of State and I who want to keep themselves occupied during the winter. In fairness, they just want a premises to bring them in from the cold and rain. They do not need spectacular showering facilities or top-of-the-range dressing rooms; they just want a warm, dry place during the winter. Would the Minister of State consider offering the building to a club, such as my local football club, on a temporary basis if the cost to the Department would be the same to maintain it? I look forward to the Minister of State's response.