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Departmental Meetings

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 May 2020

Wednesday, 13 May 2020

Ceisteanna (359)

Aindrias Moynihan

Ceist:

359. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a meeting has taken place with groups involved in advancing the bundle of new Garda stations including Macroom, County Cork to which he referred to in Dáil Éireann on 12 December 2019; if so, the persons or bodies that participated in this meeting; the outcome of the meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4328/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As the Deputy will be aware, the Office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation. Works in relation to Garda accommodation are progressed by the Garda authorities working in close cooperation with the OPW.

The Garda Building and Refurbishment Programme 2016-2021 programme is based on agreed Garda priorities and benefits over 30 locations around the country, underpinned by significant Exchequer funding across the Garda and OPW Votes. The programme includes a major Public Private Partnership project. The goal of this investment 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.

Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects are progressed under the auspices of the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA). My Department, An Garda Síochána, the OPW and the NDFA are working closely in order to progress the PPP included in the Garda Building and Refurbishment Programme.

The meeting referred to by the Deputy has taken place. The meeting was convened by my Department, along with representatives of An Garda Síochána, OPW and the NDFA. A further meeting also took place, during February, to progress the project further.

In terms of the current status of the project, I can confirm that following Garda review of its accommodation requirements, including in the context of the new Operating Model, it was decided that the PPP will now proceed in order to deliver new stations in Macroom and in Clonmel only.

I understand from the Garda authorities that a separate programme of work is beingundertaken by AGS to address the accommodation needs in Sligo and to ensure that this station meets the future operational requirements of Garda members, staff and the public who use it. This is in addition to remedial work which has already taken place at the station, to resolve urgent accommodation issues.

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