I wish to share my time with Deputy Ring.
Adjournment Debate. - Garda Stations.
Is that agreed? Agreed.
The Minister's prepared reply will more than likely not deal with the particulars of this case concerning the need for a new Garda station in Ballinrobe. I raise this matter against the background of a number of break-ins and general vandalism in Ballinrobe in the past 12 months. In the last fortnight vandalism took place on church property – windows were smashed, a number of rooms were ransacked during the day in the local convent and there were break-ins to commercial premises during which money was stolen.
Ballinrobe is a good town which offers a good quality of life. The vast majority of its citizens, including young people, are law abiding, decent and committed. However, I regret that the wrong message is being sent out about Ballinrobe. I reject that message and call on the Minister of State to play his part in creating a better and safer future for the town, its families and the people in the area.
Ballinrobe has needed a new Garda station for a long time. The current accommodation is a rented two-storey house. There are no parking facilities except on the street. A number of Garda and staff cars have been damaged. There is only one toilet and the kitchen has been infested with mice and rats for the past two years, despite the fact that Rentokil has been called in on a number of occasions. Garda strength is put at four sergeants and nine gardaí. Of these, one sergeant is based at Shrule, one is based in Kilmaine and one sergeant has been transferred to the traffic corps in Castlebar with his time extended to June this year. The remaining sergeant is the administrator of the Garda station in Ballinrobe. Two of the gardaí have been on sick leave, one for over 12 months and the other will be on sick leave for two years in May. Neither has been replaced. This is grossly unsatisfactory.
There is only one garda resident in the town. He is due to retire and will work his last day on Easter Monday. Garda Kelly has done an excellent job over the years but nothing has yet been heard of his replacement. I call on the Minister of State to expedite the provision of a new Garda station for Ballinrobe on the site of the old barracks on High Street, the chosen site for which plans have been prepared and visits made in the last 12 months.
I further call on the Minister to discuss with the Garda Commissioner flexibility in the pilot scheme introduced in the Claremorris and Thomastown areas about 15 years ago. This scheme means that security and Garda activity is centralised from one location. It is impossible to do it. Ballinrobe Garda station is open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. each day. This is not good enough.
Ballinrobe is strategically located between Castlebar and Galway. A considerable amount of traffic passes through the town and the station should be open on a 24-hour basis. The scheme is no longer valid given today's pace of activity. While it is a matter for the Commissioner, the Minister should encourage flexibility. Strategically located Garda stations should be open on a 24-hour basis.
It should be a matter of course that gardaí appointed to stations should, in so far as possible, live in the area. This is a good town. Many facilities have been provided there by successive Governments and the practice of gardaí living in the locality should be encouraged. If there are to be strong communities which will work with each other and with the agencies of the State in the interests of security, job protection, young people and their futures, this should happen. Replacements for the gardaí who are sick and for Garda Kelly should be encouraged to reside in the town of Ballinrobe. The community would strongly support this.
There are a number of small but well-known criminal elements in the general area of Ballinrobe. These have been responsible for a large number of break-ins and small, but serious, crimes. They should be apprehended and brought before the courts.
I urge the Minister to speed up the provision of the Garda station in Ballinrobe which should be open on a 24-hour basis and to deal with the vandals who are giving the town and community a bad name. Is that agreed? Agreed.
There are ten seconds left but if the House agrees, I can give Deputy Ring two minutes.
I appreciate that. Despite the row we had many months ago, a Leas-Cheann Chomhairle, I was glad to see two of my colleagues get ten minutes each. I was suspended from the Dáil for that on one occasion and I am delighted the Chair is offering a small amount of leniency tonight.
I support my colleague, Deputy Kenny. He outlined the Ballinrobe case extremely well. There is a problem with the opening hours of the Garda station and with the station itself. Ballinrobe is generally a law abiding town but crime has increased there in recent months. People are concerned, particularly the elderly. They worry about the opening hours of the Garda station and the manpower level.
We will be told that this is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. The current Minister spoke a great deal about zero tolerance before the last election. We are seeking ministerial tolerance on this occasion to ensure the money is provided for the new Garda station and that sufficient manpower is also provided. I also hope the Minister will talk to the Commissioner about the matter Deputy Kenny raised. It is a serious issue which concerns many people. Some are afraid to go to bed at night for fear of what might happen to them. This situation cannot continue.
The Minister must deal with the manpower problem by replacing the people who are on sick leave and replacing the garda about to retire who currently lives in the town. I support the call for gardaí to live in the town and among the community. That way they know what is happening in an area. The Minister of State must also ask the Minister to ensure that money is provided for the construction of a new Garda station in Ballinrobe.
I am pleased to see political co-operation between members of the same party and the same constituency.
As always.
I understand from the Garda authorities that there have been three break-ins to public houses in Ballinrobe since 1 January 1999 and that the perpetrators of two of these burglaries have so far been detected. In addition, the local convent was burgled recently and a sum of money was taken. This matter is still under investigation. I assure the Deputies that these matters are being pursued.
Ballinrobe is an area headquarters in the rural policing scheme. The station party is operating at present from a rented building in the town. While the Minister accepts that this is not ideal, the accommodation is adequate in the short term. If the station party considers that there are minor maintenance issues which need attention, it should bring them to the attention of the Garda housing officer who will consider having them dealt with this year.
It is proposed to build a new Garda station on the site of the old Garda station and married quarters, both of which are vacant at present. An official from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Garda housing officer visited the area recently and have compiled a brief of requirements for the new station. This has been sent to the Office of Public Works which has been requested to produce a sketch scheme for the project.
However, there are other projects ahead of Ballinrobe where contracts will be placed this year. Obviously, due to staff resources in the Office of Public Works and money available this year, it is not possible to progress this project immediately. The Deputies can be assured, nevertheless, that there will be no avoidable delay on the part of my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, in progressing this matter.