Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 25 Mar 1998

Vol. 489 No. 1

Adjournment Debate. - Garda Stations.

Mr. Enright

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this matter on the Adjournment. Tullamore urgently requires a new Garda station and the Minister must provide the money to build it immediately.

The Garda station in Tullamore is ideally located in the centre of the town. However, it was built in the 1930s to accommodate a staff of approximately 14. The existing station is unsuitable and unsatisfactory. It is terribly overcrowded as there are 46 members of staff stationed there. The overcrowding puts additional pressure on the gardaí by obliging them to work in cramped conditions.

The building is inadequate for a modern police force. It is a potential fire hazard, with wooden floors, wooden partitions, a wooden staircase which is extremely narrow and narrow corridors. A fire alarm was recently installed but the potential danger still exists. I doubt that the station in its present condition can comply with health regulations. In addition, in view of the present regulations regarding the treatment of persons in custody, I have doubts about the propriety of holding people in such conditions.

The accommodation in Tullamore Garda station comprises a small cramped area for members of the public, a small day room and a small public office. There is a sergeant's office and a room which is used for filing and by the other sergeants. This room is also used as a doctor's room. There is a kitchen and canteen area. There is one toilet downstairs and two upstairs. The adjoining building is used by the superintendent and his secretary and by the juvenile liaison officer's staff.

Tullamore Garda station is used as a holding centre for a large area of County Offaly. However, there are only two holding cells in the station. At weekends or when the Circuit Court is sitting, there might be up to ten prisoners held in the station. As a result, the prisoners must remain handcuffed to prison officers. That is unsatisfactory for prison officers, the prisoners and everybody else concerned. It is a serious matter that deserves attention.

I have witnessed gardaí interviewing members of the public in the corridors of the station. In the public room I watched a number of conversations taking place between the gardaí and members of the public. People who visit Garda stations, whether voluntarily or when brought in for questioning, go there to discuss sensitive personal matters of a most intimate nature. To be obliged to discuss such matters in the hearing of other members of the public is a matter of serious concern. In many cases the privacy of individuals is breached. This alone must indicate the urgency of the situation in Tullamore to the Minister.

I ask the Minister to see the conditions at Tullamore Garda station for himself. Tullamore town has made wonderful progress in the past ten years. It is now an extremely busy town which has three large supermarkets, huge office blocks, a large shopping centre, a new hotel with another due to be opened shortly and an excellent general hospital. The Department of Education and Science has offices in the town, as have the Departments of Health and Children and Social, Community and Family Affairs. Customs and Excise also has offices in Tullamore. In addition, a number of major industries and factories are located there. Tullamore continues to expand and in the interests of both the public and the Garda Síochána, I urge the Minister to provide a new Garda station immediately.

Tullamore is only 60 miles from Dublin and, as it currently enjoys prosperity, it is attracting criminals from the Dublin area. In addition, the gardaí in the town have had to deal with two murders in recent years and are currently dealing with a well known missing person case. The population of the town is between 13,000 and 14,000, while the population of the area served by the district headquarters is over 20,000.

The existing station is in the ideal location. The former fire station building adjacent to it is empty and available. The Minister should, if at all possible, make the necessary funding available to allow work commence this year.

Mr. O'Donoghue

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and affording me the opportunity to explain the latest position with regard to work on Tullamore Garda station. As he is aware, there are proposals for a major extension and refurbishment of the station. To provide the necessary room for expansion, the former fire station building adjacent to it has been acquired by the Office of Public Works.

I am aware that the accommodation provided is less than adequate given the number of staff working in the station. This is a point which my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Cowen, has been emphasising to me. The Deputy can, therefore, rest assured that I fully appreciate the need for speedy improvements.

I am aware that concern was expressed about fire safety in the building. Last year fire and safety works were completed at a cost of approximately £50,000, including the provision of an external fire escape stairs, emergency lighting system and cabinets to enclose the fuse boards. A smoke detection and fire alarm system was installed and fire blankets and extinguishers were provided. I am following the matter closely and I am concerned that whatever remedial action is needed to ensure the health and safety of gardaí and staff working in the station is undertaken.

The station is being accorded a high priority under the Garda building programme. There are, however, a number of projects which remain to be completed under the programme before the major work planned in Tullamore can begin. I cannot say, therefore, when it will be possible to commence work. I am determined, however, to tackle the problems there as soon as possible. There will be no avoidable delay in upgrading the facilities.

A great deal of work has been done in recent years in improving standards of accommodation in Garda stations throughout the country. It is, however, a large-scale operation. The programme of improvement has been accorded a high priority by the Government. This year more than £9 million has been provided for the building and maintenance of Garda stations. Gardaí occupy 704 stations and other units of accommodation throughout the country, including married quarters, large complexes, like Tullamore and Garda Headquarters, and a variety of smaller units. Many of the buildings occupied were built before the foundation of the State and designed for a different era. Many, like the station in Tullamore, are in need of major upgrading or replacement. This year a major contract has been placed for the extension and refurbishment of the divisional headquarters in Thurles. It is hoped to commence three to four other major projects.

A great deal of work has been done in recent years to improve the situation. I am sure Members will acknowledge the improvements to Garda stations and the provision of new stations built in recent years throughout the country. The new station in Tullamore will follow as soon as possible.

The Dáil adjourned at 9.25 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 26 March 1998.