I propose to take Questions Nos. 37 to 39, inclusive, together.
I must advise the Deputy that matters pertaining to Garda policy are in the first instance for my colleague, the Minister for Justice. As such, my Department has no basis on which to provide a detailed response on this matter. However, the Office of Public Works (OPW), under the remit of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform have provided information in relation to Sligo Garda Station, which I have included below.
The expenditure by OPW Property Maintenance on Sligo Garda Station from 2017 is as follows:
|
OPW Funded
|
Garda funded
|
Total
|
2017
|
€58,163.31
|
€199.49
|
€58,362.80
|
2018
|
€76,946.19
|
€39,171.39
|
€116,117.58
|
2019
|
€291,527.54
|
€419,566.37
|
€711,093.91
|
2020
|
€142,781.50
|
€493.73
|
€143,275.23
|
Property Maintenance are on site in Sligo Garda Station working on the cell upgrade, this project was recently amended to increase the number of cells in the station from 3 to 5. This project is co-funded by the OPW and GEM.
The project consists of internal upgrade works to provide a new custody suite including three new cells built to current anti-ligature standards, prisoner processing, interview, solicitor and doctor's rooms. The three existing cells were not suitable for upgrading and the proposed new cells are located in a different section of the building requiring adjacent prisoner processing facilities. Following a review by GEM the contract was amended to provide a further 2 cells – work is continuing on this project and works are currently due to be completed in December 2020. The balance to pay on this project is approximately €1.3 million.
Property Maintenance are also currently preparing a tender package to provide a portacabin for Scene of Crimes unit at Sligo, this is a Garda funded project with an estimated cost of €200,000.
Sligo Garda Station was announced as part of the Garda Building & Refurbishment Programme 2016-2021. It was previously confirmed as a Public Private Partnership project, however in a PQ response on 16 June, Minister Charlie Flanagan advised that:
Sligo station is undergoing a very extensive refit and I understand that this is felt to be a more appropriate and much faster way of delivering a modern Garda Station for Sligo, in accordance with its role in the new Garda Operating Model and having regard to the fact that the current location of the station is considered optimum from the operational perspective.
It is however important to note that, while it was decided that delivery of a new station in Sligo under the PPP was no longer justified, the Commissioner decided that the upgrading of the existing station to a high standard will continue.
I can confirm that this decision was not made in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Commissioner's decision was communicated to my Department by letter received on 2 January 2020.