The matter I am raising is not one of national interest but it is of great concern to the people in a small village who are proud of their area. It is embarrassing for all of us that a Department is preventing the tidy towns committee and the local community from aspiring to win, or even compete in, the tidy villages competition. I refer to the appalling derelict state of the Garda station in the village of Golden, where I was born and reared. Golden is a beautiful village. Much work has been done through FÁS and in co-operation with the local community, but the eyesore in the village is the Garda station. I am not talking about millions of pounds but a small sum of money is required to bring that building up to an acceptable standard. If it is allowed to deteriorate much further, it should come under the derelict sites Act. It is unfair of a Department to allow a building which is in a prominent position in the village – it is located at the entrance to the village – fall into such disrepair. The paint is peeling off the walls and the building looks dilapidated.
It is bad enough that the local community no longer has a member of the Garda Síochána living in their village but it is another matter that they are left with this eyesore. We are talking about a small amount of money but it would mean a great deal to the local community in their aspiration to win the tidy villages competition. They want to be proud of their locality. I ask the Minister to provide the money necessary to bring this building up to an acceptable standard.
We should not have to raise a matter such as this on the floor of the House. This is a reasonable request from an honest, hard-working and sincere community. I look forward to good news from the Minister.