Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 December 2004
335 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans that exist to develop accommodation to bring back to the Garda training college any course that has moved or will move to accommodate the proposed 2,000 additional recruits; the timescale expected for such a development; and the financial commitment that has been made for such development. [33421/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will know from my recent announcement on this matter, a phased approach is being adopted to meet the additional accommodation requirements of the Garda college arising from the Government decision to increase the strength of the force to 14,000. First, there is a requirement to temporarily move certain in-service and other management training courses out of the Garda college to a new location. This, which is phase 1, will enable the Garda college to concentrate mainly on training new recruits.
The necessary tendering process to source and secure a suitable outsourced facility is currently being undertaken with the help of the Office of Public Works and, accordingly, the Deputy will appreciate that I cannot comment further at this point other than to say that it is the intention to make the move from the college early in the new year.
Phase 2 of the process, which is proceeding in parallel to the above, will see a significant expansion of the existing capacity of the college. A new four-storey block will provide for central administration and free up the current teaching blocks for classroom use. There will also be new library and gym facilities. In addition to this, the existing catering and canteen facilities will be expanded. The necessary planning and tendering processes associated with this phase, which are now well advanced by the Office of Public Works will, I understand, see a contractor on site in January, 2005. The intention is that the new facilities will be completed and ready for occupation in time for the peak in-flow of recruits to the college early in 2006. This enhanced capacity will enable the return to the college of the in-service and other training at the end of the concentrated recruitment phase.
In addition, work is underway in conjunction with the Garda authorities and the Office of Public Works to relocate the tactical training facility at the college which has been displaced by the new building project.
The necessary resources for the Garda Síochána budget and the largely once-off capital costs for the Office of Public Works associated with the different phases of this development will be addressed in the normal estimates process for 2005 and following years.
