Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 144: To ask the Minister for Finance the length of time it has taken to plan for the much promised and eagerly awaited new Garda station at Leixlip, County Kildare; if there has ever been such a long drawn-out process; the cost associated to date in 2005 with the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35968/05]

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
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Following the acquisition of a site in late 2002 for the proposed new Garda station at Leixlip, County Kildare, a sketch scheme, prepared by the Office of Public Works design team and based on the Garda brief of requirements, was forwarded to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in 2003 for approval. The Department sought significant additional requirements and these requirements effectively required a bigger building. It was not possible to meet the increased requirements due to the restricted nature of the site.

The Office of Public Works opened negotiations with Kildare County Council to acquire an additional piece of land. In May 2005, following protracted negotiations, agreement was received from Kildare County Council to transfer this plot of land to the Office of Public Works. A revised sketch scheme was forwarded to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in September 2005 for approval and changes were again requested by the Garda authorities. Discussions are continuing between the Office of Public Works and the Garda authorities on these changes and when an agreement is obtained the Part 9 planning process will proceed.

Costs to date are estimated at €50,000, primarily expended on fees related to design. It is expected that construction work on the new station, which will take 12 to 15 months to complete, will commence in 2006.