Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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557. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when a Garda station will be provided in Ratoath, County Meath, in view of the fact that Ratoath is the largest town without a Garda station. [5193/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, the Office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation. Works in relation to Garda accommodation are progressed by the Garda authorities working in close cooperation with the OPW. Further, the allocation of Garda resources and personnel are purely operational matters for the Commissioner. As Minister, I have no role in the provision or decisions relating to the provision of Garda resources, including stations.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the current Garda Building and Refurbishment Programme, which runs to this year, is based on agreed Garda priorities and covers over 30 locations around the country, supported by significant Exchequer funding across the Garda and OPW Votes.

I am further informed that, while the development of a Garda Station in Ratoath is not part of the current programme, the determination of the need for a new Garda Station in Ratoath, or in any other location, will be considered by An Garda Síochána in the context of the overall accommodation requirements arising from the ongoing expansion of the Garda workforce, ‘A Policing Service for our Future’ (APSFF), and the implementation of the new Garda Operating Model, which will inform the accommodation priorities of An Garda Síochána over the years 2022-2028.