Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 496: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of and progress made in the planned decentralisation of Garda units to Thurles, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21006/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Under the Government's decentralisation programme, 213 gardaí and civilian staff are scheduled to move to Thurles by 2008. In advance of this, my Department is currently in the process of identifying, from the central applications facility, civilian personnel for transfer to the Garda central vetting unit and the Garda criminal records office, the two units which have been selected for early decentralisation to Thurles. Temporary accommodation for these offices has been identified at the Tipperary technology park in Thurles. The sketch scheme has been signed off for this temporary accommodation and it is expected to have these units in occupation by end September 2005.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that in respect of the complete move, a site has been identified in Thurles to facilitate construction of suitable permanent accommodation for all the units which are being decentralised. The terms of the sale are now well advanced and, when the site has been acquired, the Office of Public Works will prepare a brief of requirements for the accommodation to be provided.

In addition, a working group has been established under the chairmanship of the Assistant Commissioner, strategy and services, to examine and draft a brief of requirements for the new Garda IT centre at Thurles. A determination will be made in due course as to the specific posts that will be required for the setting up of this centre.