In the 2016 programme for Government it was committed to reopen a rural Garda station in Leighlinbridge, County Carlow. Nearly seven years on, this has not been done. A commitment was given to reopen it. It is a small rural Garda station to be manned by one or two gardaí. It is really needed. I am looking for a timescale. I am worn out going to the OPW and to the Department on this.

Reference was made to Garda recruitment. I want to ask about the recruitment of gardaí for Carlow. I met with the personnel from the Carlow Garda recently. I am very concerned about the way things are being centralised. Carlow seems to be the poor relation again of Kilkenny and Waterford. In December 2022, Carlow had 108 gardaí, which is not enough. We need more gardaí. When I went the Garda station, I was very surprised to see at the back of the station a prefab that is not fit for purpose but is being used as offices. I am very concerned about that. It needs to be sorted. There is no lift in Carlow Garda station. If a person is a wheelchair user or has a disability, there is no lift and he or she would not be able to use the station.

I thank Deputy Murnane O'Connor for raising the issue of Garda resources in Carlow. I do not have a date for the reopening of the station in Leighlinbridge, but I will ask the Minister, Deputy Harris, to contact the Deputy directly about it, and also about Garda resources were generally in the county. Certainly, when it comes to personnel, it is the Garda Commissioner who decides how gardaí are best allocated to national units and to different services around the country. There is, obviously, a strong political role by the OPW and the Minister, Deputy Harris, when it comes to the infrastructure in the stations themselves. I will ask them to engage to see if we can get some progress on it.