I wish to share my time with my colleague, Deputy Penrose.
Adjournment Debate. - Garda Stations.
Is that agreed? Agreed.
While the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs mentioned the additional funds needed to fund the previous project, the project which Deputy Penrose and I wish to speak on does not require funds. We would be pleased to get approval for a particular idea which has been put.
Ballymore is a scenic village in the centre of County Westmeath. This village boasts a beautiful location on the shores of Lough Sunderlin and has the usual amenities of a church, school, a thriving GAA club, a Garda station, an array of shops and pubs and a magnificent community centre. This community centre was built by the local community and is a credit to all concerned. The village has an active and enthusiastic tidy towns committee and the village continues to climb the competitive tidy towns league table.
The one blot on the landscape in Ballymore is the Garda station and the adjoining Garda residence. Strategically situated across the road from the Church of the Holy Redeemer, it commands an important position in the village. This building is run down, shabby, has broken windows and the surrounds are overgrown. It surely must be an embarrassment for the Office of Public Works and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform as well as for the taxpayer. It certainly is embarrassing to the local community in Ballymore that a publicly owned property, housing the local Garda station, should be so run down and dilapidated.
A local builder submitted a proposal to the Garda authorities to take over the existing building and site and in return he would provide a new Garda station to the specification required by the Office of Public Works, with no cost to the Office of Public Works and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. While I am not privy to the small print of this proposal, nonetheless it seems a reasonable proposition. Unfortunately, this proposal has moved very slowly through the bureaucratic chain and a decision does not seem to be forthcoming.
I call on the Office of Public Works to review immediately the situation at Ballymore Garda station and either upgrade it and the adjoining residence to a reasonable standard at public expense or consider the proposal put to it. It is a shame on the Office of Public Works that this building, which I believe is structurally sound, should remain almost derelict in this lovely village while so many people voluntarily strive to maintain the standards of the environment in this locality.
As a native of Ballymore and since my late father was the local garda for 25 years, I am familiar with this building even though my family never resided there. It is a shame it should lie derelict when one notes the proposals put to the Department. I hope the Minister will take the matter on board and have it reviewed urgently.
I thank my colleague, Deputy McGrath, who is a native of Ballymore and whose late father was the local garda for a long time, for sharing his time with me. We are seeking a new Garda station at Ballymore, County Westmeath or the upgrading and refurbishing of the existing station. I avail of this opportunity to reflect the anger of the people of Ballymore and the surrounding areas at the failure to honour commitments to proceed with the much needed construction of a proper Garda station, which is essential for the convenience and comfort of all who work therein and for members of the public who rightly expect decent facilities to be provided when they have recourse to the local station for help and advice.
The condition of the current station has sharply deteriorated. It is only a small box room, 19 feet by 12 feet, with a flat roof. It is situated at the rear of the two storey residence which has been unoccupied since 1983.
The house itself is in poor condition with windows, doors, chimney etc. in a dilapidated condition. The condition of the station is also very unsatisfactory considering that two members have to work there. It is damp and dark, with the result that on the best days of summer the light has to be turned on. The size of the station is totally inadequate, with no room for basic necessities such as personal lockers. There is no room in which to cook. Why should members of the Garda have to work in such cramped conditions when the resources are bountiful and the Minister for Finance is in a position to bank almost £1.6 billion?
The Office of Public Works is well aware of the conditions of the station. It agreed almost three years ago that a new building should be constructed on the site. As Deputy McGrath said, the people of Ballymore make a conscious effort at tidy towns level to effect continuous improvements and have made tremendous efforts in this regard. The current dilapidated date of the old Garda residence and the adjoining station has not been helpful to the strong co-ordinated efforts of all involved in the tidy town efforts and it is a shame that a State-owned building is hampering them in their worthy efforts.
Currently, Ballymore is No. 14 on the "basic unit" list and it is a bone of contention that this station has slipped down the priority list. If the Minister does not have the money, both Deputy McGrath and myself have the solution. As I understand it, a local developer has offered to construct a new basic unit with all the necessary facilities on the site beside the station. This would obviously be subject to agreement between the Office of Public Works and other details to which I am not privy. Both the Minister's Department and the Office of Public Works are aware of this proposal. What is the reason for the delay? If the Minister is not happy with the proposal he should say so. Why not seek a better deal if that is the essence of the hold-up? Why not meet with the developer to thrash out the matter? Is not this the type of public private partnership the Government is supposed to be promoting?
The people who live in the picturesque village of Ballymore have waited long enough and their patience is exhausted. Those who use the station and the gardaí who work there deserve proper facilities and the provision of a modern Garda station is fully warranted by any objective standard. We look forward to the Minister giving us good news on the matter this evening.
I thank Deputies McGrath and Penrose for raising this matter on the Adjournment.
Ballymore Garda station, in the Longford-Westmeath Garda division, is a sub-district station with a party of two members of garda rank. While the premises is in a prominent location in the town and has all the facilities necessary for Garda requirements at this location, it is recognised, nevertheless, that the building itself and the associated official accommodation are in a less than optimal state of repair.
This fact was confirmed by an inspection of the premises which was conducted by the Garda housing officer in January 1999. The condition of the Garda station and official accommodation is such that the refurbishment of the existing structure is not considered to be economically advantageous and would not constitute the best use of available resources.
As a consequence and being mindful of his duty to ensure the most effective use of funds, the Minister is please to state that a new, purpose-built basic unit type Garda station is to be provided at Ballymore. This decision was made following a feasibility study conducted by the Office of Public Works, which confirmed that it is possible to develop a basic unit station on the grounds adjoining the existing station, with only comparatively minor works required to the sewerage system in consequence.
When constructed, the new basic unit station will provide all the facilities necessary for the performance of Garda duties in the locality to a very high standard. In this regard, basic unit type accommodation is specifically designed to provide reception, public office, storage, radio equipment and toilet facilities for the station party.
In the interim, some required refurbishment of the existing Garda station was recently undertaken. Specifically, in September last, works were completed to various parts of the station, the entrance way to the station, a front window and the eaves around the entire building.
With regard to progress on the more substantive matter of building a new station, it will be appreciated that all such major developments must proceed according to the priorities of the Garda building programme. This programme seeks to ensure the ordered, timely and economically efficient construction or major refurbishment of Garda stations, as policing requirements dictate and overall resources allow.
There are a number of building projects which require attention before work may proceed at Ballymore. I cannot, therefore, indicate when precisely construction work will commence. However, the Minister assures the House he is determined to see the project proceed and there will be no avoidable delay in providing new accommodation at this location. In this regard it is important to point out that the current stock of Garda accommodation numbers 703 Garda stations, offices and complexes throughout the country.
This extensive resource, while invaluable in guaranteeing the provision of police services to the community, creates its own unique maintenance and refurbishment demands. Consequently all Garda accommodation is continually under review to ensure that it meets the operational requirements of the Force. Where it does not, the necessary works will be prioritised and completed with alacrity. This year, for example, it is expected that approximately £3.5 million will be spent on maintenance work to Garda stations and £6.5 million has been provided in the current year in the Office of Public Works Vote for major new construction or refurbishment projects. I look forward to continuing progress with the Garda building programme and, as an element of this, anticipate the new Garda station will be provided at Ballymore, having regard to the overall priorities and availability of financial and other resources.
The Dáil adjourned at 5.25 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 7 December 1999.