Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank my colleague and friend, Senator Ahearn, for raising this matter again. He has raised it on many occasions on behalf of the people of Clonmel. It is a huge issue for people and members of An Garda Síochána in the town. We need to provide the people of Clonmel and County Tipperary with this new Garda station in Kickham Barracks. It has been on the priority list for quite a while and has been identified as a key Garda project. As the Senator knows more than most, it has been included in a PPP with Macroom Garda station and the development of children’s courts at a site on Hammond Lane in Dublin.

I am delighted to confirm that approval has been granted to proceed with the development of the new Garda station in Clonmel. It will be funded via the direct Exchequer funding route. It has, as a result, been decoupled from the public private partnership with the court development. It is anticipated that the timeline for delivery of the Garda station will be substantially reduced. We have a green light and all systems go for the new Garda station for Clonmel. The development of the new Garda station in Macroom, County Cork, will also benefit from being decoupled from the justice PPP and will also be funded directly by the Exchequer.

As the Senator will be aware, my officials and I have been in ongoing contact with the Taoiseach, the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform and the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, OPW, Deputy O’Donovan, and their teams of officials. I thank them for their work on this matter. In particular, I thank the Taoiseach for his support and leadership on this.

The Senator will be aware that the construction of the new Garda district headquarters station at Kickham Barracks in Clonmel is a long-standing strategic priority for An Garda Síochána and part of the Garda building and refurbishment programme.The programme is based on agreed Garda priorities. It will benefit more than 30 locations around the country.

The real frustration in Clonmel was that they would have to wait for a significant period to see this new Garda station because of the court development in Dublin but that is no longer the case. Clonmel Garda headquarters comprises a new 3,630 sq. m building on a site of around 0.46 ha and will consists of two, three- and four-storey buildings, a stand-alone single-storey building and related existing demolitions, site and boundary works. The accommodation of the main building includes: offices; conference facilities; staff support facilities; custody areas; and plant and associated ancillary spaces. This will be a significant development.

I know Kickham Barracks well because this is just one of a number of Government investments to put the old barracks site back into public use. We have seen the incredible development of the public realm space and I was delighted to be down there. We know it will also be the home of a new further and higher education campus. It will probably be the first campus in the country to offer a full pathway from further education to higher education. Whether it is higher education, the public realm or the Garda station, this is direct and significant investment in Clonmel and Kickham Barracks. Today is an important day.

I also want to pay tribute to the Garda in Tipperary, including all of the leadership and management team there. They have been working to make sure they have the proper facilities to serve the people of Clonmel and for members of An Garda Síochána and I am sure today is a good day for them. The project will move forward; it is a project that has planning and it will need to go to tender. I anticipate that this project will go to construction in 2024. Déanaim comhghairdeas with everybody in Clonmel and I am delighted to be able to confirm this news.