Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 June 2018
257. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the engagement the Office of Public Works has had regarding a building (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24252/18]
View answerThe 2012 and 2013 Policing Plans for An Garda Síochána identified 139 Garda stations for closure. Many of these properties reverted to the Office of Public Works (OPW) to identify an alternative State use or manage their disposal.
In 2016, An Garda Síochána/Policing Authority undertook a review of the closed Garda stations under the Programme for a Partnership Government. In late 2017, the preliminary review initially identified six stations for re-opening. These were:
Ballinspittle, Co. Cork
Bawnboy, Co. Cavan
Leighlinbridge, Co. Carlow
Donard, Co. Wicklow
Stepaside, Co. Dublin
Rush, Co. Dublin.
The Programme for a Partnership Government also commits to requesting the Policing Authority to oversee a review of ‘both the boundaries of Garda districts and the dispersement of Garda stations in rural areas and in developing urban and suburban areas with a view to ensuring both an efficient and optimum geographical distribution of stations’. In this regard, the Acting Garda Commissioner has requested the OPW not to dispose of any additional former Garda stations, including the former Garda station at Cloghan, Co. Donegal.
An OPW official did meet with members of Donegal Mountain Rescue to discuss their interest in acquiring the former Garda station at Cloghan and they are aware that any decision to dispose or transfer the former Garda station in Cloghan, Co. Donegal is on hold pending the recommendations arising from the proposed review.
