Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

14. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when the members of An Garda Síochána in Sligo town will have a new station; her plans to reconfigure Garda resources in west County Sligo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9996/16]

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

The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Building and Refurbishment Programme 2016-2021, which I announced with the then Minister of State at the OPW, in October 2015, makes provision for a new Garda Regional Headquarters in Sligo.

This project is included with a number of other Garda projects which are intended to be financed by way of public private partnership (PPP). The development of the Garda projects under PPP involves collaboration between my Department, An Garda Síochána, the Office of Public Works and the National Development Finance Agency.

I am advised that an Garda Síochána is currently engaging with the Office of Public Works in relation to the allocation of a site in Sligo for this development.

The Refurbishment Programme provides for over €60 million in direct Exchequer funding as part of the Government’s Capital Plan 2016-2021 and a public private partnership. The direct Exchequer funding includes €18 million provided in the Garda vote under the Capital Plan which is additional to the funding allocated to the OPW vote.

The Programme was developed by An Garda Síochána and the OPW having regard to the strategic priorities of An Garda Síochána and includes:

- the development of new stations through a public private partnership project;

- major refurbishment of stations/facilities including facilities for meeting victims of crime;

- essential remedial works to existing stations;

- development of large scale property and exhibit management stores (PEMS);

- upgrade to cells and provision of improved custody management facilities.

The Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review taking into account crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources.

I would point out, however, that the Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime. Key to achieving this goal is the commitment in the Programme for Government, "A Programme for a Partnership Government" tocontinue the ongoing accelerated Garda recruitment programme with a view to increasing Garda numbers to 15,000.