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Garda Expenditure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2020

Tuesday, 14 July 2020

Questions (932)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

932. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount of funding provided for the building programme of An Garda Síochána under the 2016-2021 capital plan; and the amount spend in each of the years 2016 to 2019 and to date in 2020. [15278/20]

View answer

Written answers

The Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management and control of An Garda Síochána and for the effective and efficient use of Garda resources. Further, the Office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation. Works in relation to Garda accommodation are therefore progressed by the Garda authorities working in close cooperation with the OPW.

The overall purpose of the ongoing Garda Building and Refurbishment Programme 2016-2021 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 programme is based on agreed Garda priorities and includes substantial works at over 30 locations nationwide as well as other works such as cell refurbishment at over 100 locations.

The scale of what is involved in this task should not be underestimated – as there are over 560 Garda stations nationwide, including a significant number of old buildings.

Good progress is being made in addressing issues in the Garda estate and indeed expanding it to cater for the ongoing growth in Garda members and staff.

Capital investment for the Garda Estate for 2020 is €32m. I have contacted An Garda Síochána in relation to the amounts expended on the estate for the years sought and will write directly to the Deputy when a response is available.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51
I refer to your Parliamentary Question No. 932 of 14 July 2020 where you asked for the amount of funding provided for the building programme of An Garda Síochána under the Capital Plan 2016-2021; and the amount spend in each of the years 2016 to 2019 and to date in 2020. As you may recall, the information you requested could not be obtained in the time available and I undertook to contact you again when the information was to hand.
The requested information has now been provided by An Garda Síochána and accordingly, I have been informed by An Garda Síochána that the programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda accommodation is progressed by the Garda authorities working in close cooperation with the Office of Public Works (OPW), which has the responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation.
The Garda Capital Investment Programme 2016-2021, which was announced by the then Minister for Justice and Equality and the then Minister of State at the Office of Public Works on 21 October 2015, provides for a range of capital works in the Garda estate ranging from new Regional and Divisional HQ facilities to enhancing custody management facilities and urgent safety matters in selected locations.
The OPW, as agents and property advisors for An Garda Síochána, advise that the original Capital Plan had earmarked a provision of approximately €60m, of which OPW would provide approx. €42m and An Garda Síochána contribute €18m.
This Capital Plan excluded the Garda Station projects at Kevin Street, Galway and Wexford which were progressed separately to the plan. A total of €100 million was allocated for these works and I can confirm that these projects have been completed.
The PPP element of the Capital Plan which includes new Garda Stations in Macroom and Clonmel is expected to cost approximately €50 million and is currently being progressed with the OPW, AGS and the NDFA.
For your information, the table appended to this letter, as provided to me by the OPW and the Garda authorities, sets out details of the Capital Expenditure incurred on the Garda Estate in each of the years 2016 – 2019 and to end May 2020 (the latest date for which figures are available).
I trust this information is of assistance.
Appendix:

AGS Funded

OPW Funded

Amount

Year

2016

428,000

6,105,000

6,533,000

2017

1,700,000

4,535,000

6,235,000

2018

2,715,000

7,305,000

10,020,000

2019

3,575,000

10,007,000

13,582,000

2020 (January – May)

777,000

2,142,000

2,919,000

Total

9,195,000

30,094,000

39,289,000

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