(Laoighis-Offaly): I am delighted this subject has been chosen as I have been seeking to raise it since before the Christmas recess. I am very concerned that if something is not done quickly to remedy this situation in Tullamore Garda Station, we could be here some day discussing a serious accident.
Tullamore Garda Station is totally inadequate for today's needs. It breaches health and safety standards and fire regulations in a number of serious respects. A total overhaul and provision of a considerable extension is necessary as it is totally inadequate to serve the main town of County Offaly as well as quite a large part of that county. It needs to be fitted up not for the needs of the 1930s, when it was built, but for those of the 21st century.
I impress on the Minister the urgency of beginning building work as soon as possible. I am quite concerned about the safety hazard it presents. The station was built in the early 1930s and was adequate to cater for one sergeant and 12 gardaí who were all male. Today the building must cater for a staff of 47, seven of whom are women including three gardaí, three clerical workers and one cleaner. It is unacceptable that there are not rest room facilities for the female clerical staff.
The station has two cells that could not be described as luxurious accommodation. Last year 500 prisoners passed through them. As Tullamore is the main court centre in north Offaly, prisoners are held in the station regularly on their way to and from court. The catchment area served by the station is approximately 40,000. There is a greater demand on those facilities because of recent legal difficulties regarding court locations. A number of courts that were held in other areas are now held in Tullamore. Yesterday five prisoners were held in the two cells and there is no separate cell or toilet for female prisoners. Members of the public do not have any privacy to conduct their business in the public office. They must do so at a hatch open to intrusion from other members of the public and the gardaí.
I am concerned that fire regulations are being breached daily at the station. A fire officer inspected the building in late 1995 and discovered a number of serious breaches of the regulations. The only stairs in the building is a wooden structure. I would hate to be upstairs if there was a fire. There is no fire alarm, fire escape or fire doors in the station.
While space is not available in many stations to build an extension, in Tullamore adequate space is available at an adjoining site to build one. The fire station vacated its premises next door when a new fire headquarters for the county was built some years ago. Its previous premises is in public ownership. It would be very straightforward to build a large extension, renovate the current building and provide the town and the county with a Garda station adequate to meet the needs of today.
The Department, the Office of Public Works and the Garda authorities have given this matter attention. I am concerned they might propose a short-term solution which would be a waste of money in the long-term. Up to £90,000 could be spent providing a short-term measure to address the health and safety issues, but an adequate job could be done for approximately £200,000. The matter is being examined by the Garda authorities and the Department of Justice and I expect decisions will be made in the coming weeks. I urge the Minister to communicate with the Minister for Justice and impress on her the urgent need to deal with this matter to ensure we will not be back here debating a tragedy.
