Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 22 May 2001

Vol. 536 No. 5

Adjournment Debate. - Garda Stations.

Mr. McGinley

Last week, a Garda sergeant and two gardaí took the almost unprecedented step of vacating a Garda station in Muff, County Donegal, amid fears for their health and safety. The Muff Garda Station, which was built almost 100 years ago, was condemned as unfit for human habitation in the 1970s. One can understand the frustrations of the gardaí attached to this station. Last November, they threatened to walk out but suspended the threat due to last minute negotiations which promised urgent attention to the problem. The necessary repair work has not been carried out, however, resulting in last week's drastic action.

The station is a two-storey building but only one downstairs room can be safely used. The only toilet in the building is located in an upstairs room which is dangerous to enter. The remainder of the building is crumbling from rising and descending damp and dry rot. It is a disgrace to the State that gardaí should be obliged to operate out of a derelict building.

The town of Muff straddles the Border and the dilapidated station presents a terrible image to anyone entering Donegal from Derry. How can any Minister or Government justify gardaí working in such Dickensian conditions? While we may be enjoying the benefits of a First World economy, the conditions under which gardaí are operating in Muff are nothing short of Third World standards. How can the Minister expect the gardaí to operate in an efficient manner in a Border station under such conditions? Can he point to any other profession whose members would be expected to work in similar conditions? It is past time proper premises were provided at Muff to enable Garda personnel to carry out their duties in a civilised and dignified manner. Will the Minister of State give an undertaking this evening that proper premises will immediately be made available at Muff, a pivotal and strategic Border location?

A portacabin was delivered to the station last weekend. Does the Minister seriously expect gardaí to operate efficiently out of a portacabin? A new Garda station should have been provided years ago. As an interim measure, I suggest that the former customs station built in the 1970s which is currently vacant could be used as a temporary station while a new station is being built. The customs station is probably State property in any event.

The situation at Killybegs Garda station in my constituency is equally bad. Gardaí there have threatened to join their colleagues in Muff due to the existence of sub-standard conditions at the station. Killybegs gardaí have been promised a new station for many years but, to date, little or no progress has been made.

It has reached the stage where the local parish priest, Fr. Lorcan Sharkey, has agreed to accommodate the Killybegs gardaí temporarily in the parochial house until repairs are carried out or a new station is provided. While we all applaud and recognise the generosity of the parish priest in offering the parochial house as a temporary station, it is the duty of the Minister and the Government to act. The Minister should give a guarantee and an undertaking in the House – I regret that he is not present but I hope the Minister of State will have something to say – that the two stations will be immediately upgraded and proper accommodation and facilities provided in order that gardaí can carry out their duties with the efficiency and professionalism we have come to expect of them.

When in opposition, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform carved out a personal reputation for law and order and zero tolerance. I witnessed his performances in the House, but the lack of proper Garda accommodation in County Donegal, particularly Muff and Killybegs, is not conducive to these worthy objectives. The ultimate responsibility for providing adequate accommodation rests with the Minister.

Dr. Moffatt

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter on the Adjournment. As he may be aware, the Minister answered a question from Deputy Keaveney on the matter in the House today. The position is that necessary, temporary accommodation has been provided for the gardaí to the rear of the existing station at Muff. Moreover, negotiations are being undertaken by the Office of Public Works to secure a suitable and permanent new location for the gardaí in the town.

In general, the Minister is aware that certain stations have recently given rise to particular difficulties for the members working in them. This includes the station at Muff. He acknowledges that the standard of accommodation in some stations is less than ideal, but believes that any fair analysis of his involvement to date, as Minister, must take account of the continuing efforts being made to progress the Garda building programme. In the general context of providing adequate and proper accommodation for all gardaí, the Government has significantly increased the allocation for capital works from £7 million in 1997 to £19.5 million in 2000. Since 1998, in excess of £51 million has been allocated in the Vote of the Office of Public Works for capital works on Garda properties. By any standard, this is a substantial sum. Similarly, since 1998, a sum of just under £21 million has been secured in the Garda Vote for necessary maintenance works to Garda stations. The Minister increased this allocation from £3.37 million in 1997 to £7.1 million in 2000.

There is still much to do and the Minister is determined that an appropriate level of funding, and more if possible, will continue to be provided for this necessary work. However, I wish to point out that progress in this important area will only be made with the co-operation and goodwill of and sensible and sensitive approach from a number of sources, including the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Garda authorities and representative associations and the Office of Public Works, which is financially accountable for capital works to Garda properties. Such co-operation has always been forthcoming to date and the Minister will seek to ensure everything possible is done to improve accommodation facilities for all serving members.

Gardaí occupy some 703 Garda stations and other units of accommodation around the country, including married quarters, large complexes like Templemore and Garda headquarters and a variety of smaller units. Many of the buildings occupied by them were built before the foundation of the State and were designed for a different era. This extensive resource, while invaluable in guaranteeing the provision of police services for the community, creates its own unique maintenance and refurbishment demands. Consequently, all Garda accommodation is continually under review to ensure it meets the operational requirements of the force. Where that is not the case, necessary works are prioritised and completed with the appropriate degree of urgency to ensure, as far as is feasible, the ordered, timely and economically efficient construction or major refurbishment of Garda stations as policing requirements demand and overall priorities allow.

The Dáil adjourned at 9.05 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 23 May 2001.