Clonmel Garda station bundle
Mattie McGrath pressed to unbundle the long-delayed Clonmel Garda station from a wider PPP package. The Taoiseach said Clonmel and Macroom stations were included with the family law complex, but the Government was examining unbundling to deliver them sooner.
I raise the issue of the new Garda station for Clonmel. This issue has been going on for more than 50 years. I have been raising it for 16 years since I was elected to the Dáil. We now have a site, planning and design for a splendid new Garda station, but for some strange reason - I believe there is a window of opportunity now - it has been bundled with another Garda station, which we have no problem with, and with the children's court project, which is a totally different vehicle. There is a window at the moment for us to separate or unbundle it from the children's court, which would delay it for another few years. There is a chance of progress if we can get that taken out and have the public private partnership, PPP, only for Garda stations and not complicate it with the children's court, which is a different vehicle, as I said. Will the Taoiseach intervene with the Minister for Justice immediately? It is my understanding that it is at a delicate stage at present. We may be able to make progress if we can get this funding segregated again and get progress for the station. The Taoiseach has seen it. It is Dickensian. I do not know how anyone works in it. It is just not fit for purpose.
Comment on this
This matter has been raised with me by Senator Ahearn and Deputies Lowry and Cahill. It pertains to two Garda stations, namely, new ones that are needed in Clonmel and Macroom. They are very much needed. They are part of the PPP bundle with the family law complex in Dublin.
Comment on this
If we stick with that, it will take forever, so we are examining unbundling it, which would allow us to go ahead with the Garda stations in Clonmel and Macroom quite quickly, certainly in the next year or so. We are working out the details and legal issues that relate to doing that. It requires bringing forward some spending, but if we take a long-term view, it would be cheaper to do it sooner. It requires the reallocation of funding which we are working on at the moment. We will have a meeting on it tomorrow, so I hope we will make progress on it soon.