Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 December 2018
235. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the public private partnership bundle consisting of new Garda stations for Macroom, Clonmel and Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53488/18]
View answer236. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the proposed new Garda station in Macroom, County Cork; when it will to go to tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53489/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 235 and 236 together.
The Deputy will appreciate that the programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda accommodation is progressed by the Garda authorities working in close co-operation with the Office of Public Works (OPW), which has responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation.
The Garda Building and Refurbishment Programme 2016-2021 is an ambitious 5-year Programme based on agreed Garda priorities, which continues to benefit over 30 locations around the country. The Programme includes over €60 million of Exchequer funding as well as a major Public Private Partnership (PPP). This is in addition to the provision of over €100 million for delivery of 3 new Divisional and Regional Headquarters in Wexford, Galway and Kevin Street, Dublin, each of which, I am pleased to confirm, have been completed and are now operational. The clear goal of this investment is to address deficiencies in the Garda estate and provide fit-for-purpose facilities for Garda members and staff as well as the public interacting with them.
The Public Private Partnership arrangement included in the Building and Refurbishment Programme is intended to deliver new stations at Clonmel, Macroom and Sligo as well as a new custody suite at the Garda Station at Anglesea Street, Cork.
I am informed by the OPW and the Garda authorities that the OPW has acquired sites for the development of the new stations in Macroom and Sligo. The site for the new Garda Station in Clonmel is already in State ownership and work is now being finalised on its transfer from the Council to the OPW. On completion, ownership of all three sites will be vested in the OPW.
The development of PPP projects is progressed under the auspices of the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA). My Department is engaging with the NDFA with a view to progressing the matter further.
It is not possible to provide a timeframe for the completion of these projects at this point, however I can assure the Deputy that delivery of the new stations at Clonmel, Macroom and Sligo through this PPP arrangement is being pursued as a priority.
