asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a comprehensive statement on the provision of a new Garda barracks at Tramore, County Waterford.

It was originally intended to build a new Garda station at Strand Road, Tramore, on a site which had been acquired from CIE but to facilitate other development of the area in the interests of tourism it was later agreed to exchange the site for one at Turkey Road. In April, 1974, shortly before the exchange transaction had been legally completed, the Commissioners of Public Works received representations from Waterford County Council indicating that the council wished to use the Turkey Road site for car parking and suggesting that the new station could be better located on a site at Market Street, owned by the Tramore Town Commissioners. The council accordingly proposed a further exchange of sites. The Garda authorities favoured the Market Street site and the county council's proposal was agreed to by the Commissioners of Public Works in November, 1974. There has been delay in giving effect to the exchange because the Town Commissioners had first to extinguish certain rights of way across the Market Street property. The difficulty has now been resolved and every effort is being made to bring the transaction to an early conclusion. There will be no delay in the planning of the new station but it is not possible to say at this stage when work on the erection of the building can be commenced.

13.