Vol. 569 No. 3
203 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the unsafe condition of Portlaoise Garda station which is in breach of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989 and which is totally inadequate for the members of the Garda Síochána, members of the public and prisoners who are detained at the station; and the position regarding building a new Garda station in Portlaoise. [217860/03]
204 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Finance his plans to build a new Garda station in Portlaoise, County Laois, on the site of the existing Garda station; if, alternatively, he plans to build a new station on a greenfield site; if so, if the necessary land has been purchased by his Department for the building of this station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [217861/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 203 and 204 together.
The Health and Safety Authority served an improvement notice on Portlaoise Garda station on 13 December 2001. All works recommended in the improvement notice have been implemented. The commissioners of public works are considering several options to meet the future accommodation needs of the gardaí in Portlaoise. These options include extending the existing station using an adjacent site and building a new station on a greenfield site. The provision of a new station will be carried out in accordance with the priority given by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and will depend on the availability of appropriate funding.
