Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan. I call Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee. She has four minutes to outline her request on Rush Garda station.

Lorraine Clifford Lee (Fianna Fail)
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It was announced at a meeting of the Committee of Public Accounts in November 2017 that Rush Garda station was among six that An Garda Síochána was recommending the Government reopen as part of a pilot programme. This was welcomed in Rush and across north County Dublin. The town has a population of 10,000 people and it is growing rapidly. It really felt the loss of its Garda station. By way of Commencement matter a few weeks after the announcement, I asked the Minister to give an outline of the timescale for the reopening. The people of Rush were anxious that the Garda station be reopened as soon as possible. I was informed that the head of estate management in An Garda Síochána had written to the Office of Public Works, OPW, to start a dialogue on the requirements of An Garda Síochána and to allow the OPW to complete an assessment of what is needed, taking into account current building standards and regulations. I was further informed that a tender process would commence once the assessment was complete. Contracts would be signed when the tender process was finished and the work started. The Garda station would finally be opened when the work was complete.

Will the Minister let me know where stands this process? Has the assessment been completed? If not, when is it envisaged that it will be completed? When will the tender process be commenced if the assessment is completed and how long is it envisaged that this process will take? It is also important to note that extra Garda resources are required when the station does eventually reopen. Fingal is the most rapidly growing area in the country and there are not enough gardaí there at present. Will the Minister provide an update, in so far as is possible, on the reopening of Rush Garda station?

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I thank Senator Clifford-Lee for raising this important matter. The Senator will appreciate that the programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda accommodation is progressed by the Garda authorities in close co-operation with the OPW. The latter has responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation. This includes identifying and progressing any necessary remedial or refurbishment works required at individual stations. As Minister, I have no direct role in those matters.

As the Senator will be aware, there is a commitment in A Programme for a Partnership Government regarding a pilot scheme to reopen six Garda stations - both urban and rural - to determine possible positive impacts that such openings will have on criminal activity. There will be special emphasis on burglaries, theft and matters of public order. The then Garda Commissioner's final report, which is available on my Department’s website, recommends that Rush Garda station, along those at Ballinspittle in County Cork, Bawnboy in County Cavan, Leighlinbridge in County Carlow, Donard in County Wicklow and Stepaside in County Dublin, be reopened.I am informed by Garda authorities that a brief of requirements was provided to the Office of Public Works, OPW, on the reopening of these six stations, including the station at Rush. The Garda authorities requested the OPW to undertake technical surveys to determine the works which would be required to enable the stations to reopen and the estimated costs involved. I am further informed that this key stage is now complete and the OPW has conducted the necessary technical surveys of all six stations and has written to the Garda Commissioner outlining the works required and the estimated cost involved. I understand An Garda Síochána is considering the detail of those reports and any outstanding questions on the brief in each case; and that An Garda Síochána and the OPW continue to liaise closely to progress the reopening on a pilot basis. Works will commence once the appropriate procurement process has been finalised. I reiterate that the OPW and An Garda Síochána are working closely to progress this pilot project and my Department is also closely following the case, with a view to enabling the reopening at the earliest opportunity.

Lorraine Clifford Lee (Fianna Fail)
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I am delighted to hear the vital assessment stage has been completed and we can move to the next stage in the process. Can the Minister indicate when the procurement process is likely to be completed?

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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At this stage it is not entirely possible to provide a strict timeframe for the opening of Rush Garda station. It depends on a number of factors, including, for example, the extent of the required refurbishment based on current building regulations. There are also agreed standards and specifications for Garda cell areas and custody suites that may well have to be incorporated into the refurbishment. I acknowledge the importance of the matter for Senator Clifford-Lee and I would be happy to keep her and the House informed of developments. I confirm that detailed work is ongoing in the projects. The technical surveys, an important step, have taken place and they were based on the brief of requirements from An Garda Síochána. The Garda is currently considering the detail of the reports in conjunction with the Office of Public Works and my office has a role to play in monitoring the position and reporting to the House here. I remind the House of the Government's commitment to achieving a progressive increase in Garda numbers over the next number of years and that will involve extra infrastructural developments, including stations. The Garda station at Rush has been approved as one of the areas for the pilot project.

I would be happy to provide the Senator with further information on the timeframe as soon as I am in a position to do so. If I speculated, I am sure the Senator and the House would hold me to it. I am not in a position to do so at this point.

Lorraine Clifford Lee (Fianna Fail)
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May I come back in?

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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The Senator should be brief. The Minister has been as honest as he can.

Lorraine Clifford Lee (Fianna Fail)
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Would I be better off redirecting these questions to the Minister of State responsible for the Office of Public Works or is the Minister's Department responsible for this?

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I am happy to assist the Senator. I am sure if she contacted the Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Moran, he would be equally obliging with appropriate information.

Lorraine Clifford Lee (Fianna Fail)
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I would like a timescale for the tender process. I will be in correspondence with the Minister and his colleague.