Northern Cross Garda HQ
Deputy Mitchell sought clarity on the long-delayed Garda headquarters project at Northern Cross amid mixed messages about site identification and timing. The Taoiseach said he would raise it with the Minister of State at the OPW and get a clearer update.
I want to raise the planned Garda headquarters at Northern Cross. As the Taoiseach will be aware, this was announced eight years ago. I and many people in the constituency are getting frustrated because we are getting mixed messages. Last week, the Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW said he hoped that this would commence in 2028 but then he went on to say that no site has been identified. The elected representatives for the area have been told for the past seven years that a site had been identified and is being progressed. I am asking the Taoiseach to get us some clarification because the last thing we need is mixed messages.
Comment on this
I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. The Minister of State responsible for the OPW is solid citizen. When he says things, he generally means them. I will discuss the issue with him and try to get clarity. In all of these developments, site acquisition is always the key enabler and sometimes the absence of a site can be the cause of a project not developing. I will ask him and come back to the Deputy.