Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

419. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality given that contracts have been signed for construction of the Garda Síochána Divisional Headquarters in Renmore in County Galway; if she will honour the commitment of the previous Government that Millstreet Garda Síochána station will be retained as a city centre station; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36118/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Work on the Galway Regional and Divisional Headquarters is due to commence shortly at a cost of €28.16 million and is expected to be completed in 2 years. The contract to construct the new Divisional & Regional HQ was awarded to JJ Rhatigan and Company (Galway) on 2 October 2015.

The new station will provide the Gardaí with a wide variety of modern support facilities for 21st century policing as well as a conventional Garda station. The new HQ is 8,000 sq.m in size, with a 4000 sq.m basement and will provide facilities for Garda operational services as well as supporting services such as prisoner processing, staff and educational facilities. The ability to extend the building has been catered for and can be accommodated if necessary in the future. Other features include:

- Public offices;

- Victim support rooms;

- Custody facilities (13 Cells and a full range of custody facilities, including interview rooms, doctors room, fingerprint room (AFIS), intoxilyser room, solicitor/client consultation room, prisoner exercise area, etc);

- Conference facilities;

- Training facilities;

- Scenes of crime room;

- Property and Exhibit Store;

- Incident rooms;

- Welfare facilities;

- Vehicle testing garage;

- Dog pound;

- Firing range;

- Regional Support Unit accommodation;

- Facilities for the Regional Assistant Commissioner and his team; and

- Plant, and associated ancillary spaces.

I have asked the Garda authorities for the information requested in relation to the Deputy's query concerning Millstreet Garda Station and I will revert as soon as I have this information to hand.