Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, to the House. His west Cork colleague, Senator Lombard, has four minutes to outline his case.

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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It is like the West Cork Show here.

Tim Lombard (Fine Gael)
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It is like the three wise men.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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As the Minister of State is doing all the responses today, he must be very wise or the patron of hopeless cases.

Tim Lombard (Fine Gael)
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I am looking for an update regarding the re-opening of Ballinspittle Garda station. It was to be opened under the Garda station reopening pilot scheme announced in February 2017. It is an important and unique location. The 2016 census showed it has one of the largest catchment areas for a rural Garda station. This must be taken into consideration with the significant influx of tourists there over the next several weeks, making it a thriving and busy village.

When I met the local community last weekend, it was concerned at the progress of the reopening of the Garda station. Originally, it was announced it would be open by March 2019 and that date was moved to the second quarter of 2019. I met the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, and the Minister of State at Bandon Garda station last February when June or July was mentioned as the opening date. There is local concern about where the project is at currently, given the lack of work on the ground. I am seeking an update on the timeline. Will the station open in the next few weeks or months?

Due to the busy summer period in Ballinspittle and its coastal hinterland, it is a key location that needs its Garda station re-opened. It is important we get an update on when work will begin on the site and when the opening will be. Staffing the station is another issue that needs to be dealt with down the line.

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I am pleased to provide an update on behalf of my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran.

The Office of Public Works, OPW, received a request from An Garda Síochána in November 2017, listing six Garda stations to be reopened on a pilot basis as contained in the programme for Government and for the OPW to assist in progressing matters. In January 2018, briefs of requirements were received for five stations, including Ballinspittle. The OPW undertook a technical assessment of all the buildings to ascertain the scope of works needed to reopen each of the stations. It compiled indicative costings based on information supplied and the relevant scope of works. It wrote to the then acting Garda Commissioner in April 2018, providing details and indicative costs for each of the six Garda stations, highlighting key issues and decisions to be made.

An Garda Síochána wrote to the Department of Justice and Equality in July 2018 outlining their requirements, suggesting possible solutions and seeking a capital provision of €2.56 million for the programme and approval to proceed.

In July 2018, the OPW received confirmation from the Department of Justice and Equality that funding was available and that the OPW was to proceed with the implementation of the reopening of the six pilot Garda stations. The OPW fully engaged with Garda estate management to agree the definitive project brief for each station.

The OPW commenced by undertaking technical surveys on the Ballinspittle Garda station building. Garda estate management forwarded a revised brief of requirements in August 2018. A revised crime prevention report and telecommunications report were received in September 2018. Taking these into account, the OPW prepared a layout, which was signed off at a meeting held on site in October 2018, subject to some minor amendments. These amendments were incorporated into the scheme and a final sign off was received later that month.

In May 2019, the OPW issued a revised drawing showing the boundary area required to provide secure car parking and turning facilities at the Garda station. Approval was received from Garda estate management soon afterwards.

The OPW is now progressing with the procurement process and is currently compiling the tender documents for the required works at Ballinspittle Garda station for issue this month with an expected return in August, with tender evaluation and contract award thereafter. It is anticipated that works will be completed and handed over to An Garda Síochána by the end of this year. It will be an operational matter for An Garda Síochána as to when the completed station will be fully open to the public.

Tim Lombard (Fine Gael)
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Reassuring the community that this Garda station will reopen is very important. The main bones of the question have been dealt with. It is expected that the tender documents will be back by August, with the works to be completed by the end of the year. That is very important, but, unfortunately, the rumour brigade has been in full swing in that part of the world. This information will help to clarify the issue. I welcome the report. I think we can move forward and have the Garda station reopened by the end of the year.