Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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145. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the fact that an independent engineers report has condemned the existing Garda station in Sligo town. [40198/16]

Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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146. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the fact that on arrest prisoners in County Sligo must be taken to the south County Sligo Garda station of Ballymote as the prisoner facilities in Sligo town have been condemned. [40199/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 145 and 146 together.

The Deputy will appreciate that the Office of Public Works has the primary responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation and works closely with the Garda authorities in this regard.

I am aware that a number of significant fire, health and safety issues were identified at Sligo Garda station and I am assured that local Garda management and the Office of Public Works are working closely to address these issues. I understand that specific functions carried out at Sligo Garda Station are to be relocated to external accommodation to allow for a reconfiguration of the station to meet the needs of front line operational personnel and to address the health and safety concerns. In this context, I am informed that An Garda Síochána and OPW are working closely to settle the requirements for the external accommodation that has been sourced.

An Garda Síochána and the OPW are also working closely to identify how the existing Garda Station at Sligo should be reconfigured and I am informed that this reconfiguration will require refurbishment works in areas such as the public office, custody management facilities and welfare facilities for the station party. It is obviously important that the custody facilities meet standards that ensure the proper treatment of persons in custody.

In addition, a number of short term measures to address and improve the accommodation situation at the station have taken place this year, including works to fully refurbish toilets and to replace the kitchen with an industrial standard facility.

While steps are being taken to address the particular issues that have arisen in relation to the existing station, the Deputy will be aware that, in the longer term, a new station is to be built in Sligo as part of the Garda Síochána's Building and Refurbishment Programme 2016 – 2021.