I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting my topic.
I wish to go through my record on raising the issue of Muff Garda station. It is a small village station about three miles from Derry and the village is a big gateway into Inishowen. The village of Muff has historically been small but a huge housing expansion there means it is now a town rather than a village and accordingly, the facilities for local gardaí need to be of an appropriate standard. The building they were housed in was condemned and approximately 20 years ago it was at number 14 on the priority list of the Office of Public Works and the Garda. I have tracked what has happened regarding this small but very important station.
I raised the issue of Muff Garda station on 4 April 2000 and was told there were plans for a new basic unit station for Muff but that there was no real decision on the date for commencement of work. By 14 June 2000 the then Minister, Deputy O'Donoghue, confirmed that Muff featured on the current Garda building programme priority list as requiring a new station to support the policing requirements of the area. At that stage it was intended to demolish the existing station and to construct a new station on the site. The Minister included the proviso that he did not know how long it would take; he did not know when he could build a new station.
On 9 January 2001 the Minister wrote again to me and stated the Commissioners of Public Works had entered consultations with Donegal County Council regarding a proposal to provide alternative accommodation for the gardaí at a particular residence in Muff. By 9 January 2001 they had gone from demolishing the existing building and rebuilding to a move to another building in the village.
On 22 May 2001 I was told that temporary accommodation had been provided for the gardaí because they had threatened not to stay in Muff. The situation was dire at that point. I was also told that negotiations were being undertaken by the Office of Public Works to secure a suitable and permanent new location for the gardaí in the town. The negotiations continued through May to July and by October 2001 those negotiations had been completed. The Office of Public Works was then attending to the legal requirements necessary to conclude matters.
In November 2001 I was told the Office of Public Works expected to be in a position shortly to sign a contract to allow the gardaí to move from their temporary accommodation to their new permanent location within the town; the Office of Public Works would sign the contract and proceed as soon as certain necessary legal requirements were concluded.
In June 2002 I was told that the Office of Public Works had signed the contract for the purchase of alternative accommodation for the Garda station and was awaiting completion of the transaction by the Chief State Solicitor's office.
In October 2002 I was told by the Office of Public Works that the legal formalities necessary to secure the alternative accommodation for the Garda station referred to by me were completed. Moreover I was informed that the Office of Public Works was asked to carry out the required alterations to the building to facilitate an early occupation by the gardaí.
It is with great surprise then that on 13 February 2003 I was told that the Commission of Public Works regards Muff Garda station as No. 3 on the Garda priority programme and that it is hoped to have a contractor on site in the latter half of 2003.
There is patience and there is patience. I understand a house was bought for the purpose of conversion into a Garda station. The process involved was long and arduous as I have shown in the parliamentary question system but if a house was ready to be moved into in October 2002 how are we talking now about putting contractors on site in 2003? I do not understand this and I do not accept it. It is not fair on the gardaí and shows a lack of respect for them from the authorities. It sends out a bad message. I want the gardaí to be visible on the streets but they cannot be on the streets if they do not have an adequate station to work from. I look forward to some clarification of this matter.