2026-04-16

10. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation for an update on the proposed new Garda station at Northern Cross in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27621/26]

Is there an update on the provision of a much-needed new Garda station at Northern Cross in Dublin?

The Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration published its sectoral investment plan on 4 December 2025. The second half of the sectoral investment plan will focus on bringing the projects for Dublin metropolitan region north to construction in 2028. Given the commitment in the Department of justice's NDP sectoral plan, the Office of Public Works is now working with An Garda Síochána to confirm and refine specific requirements in north Dublin. An Garda Síochána is continuing to develop a detailed brief of requirements for Dublin metropolitan region north in collaboration with the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. Once this process is complete, the Office of Public Works will engage with An Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to support them in identifying and appraising the most suitable site to support their objectives. I sincerely acknowledge the persistent and constructive engagement of Deputy O'Callaghan and other Deputies. I assure them that the matter remains a priority for my Department and the wider Government. I recognise the frustration caused by the lack of visible progress, and I share the Deputy's concerns about the timeline. The Office of Public Works is actively collaborating with An Garda Síochána and the Department to finalise requirements and conduct a thorough site identification and appraisal process in line with infrastructure guidelines. While an initial market trawl has been completed, the next steps involve refining requirements and selecting the most suitable site for all those requirements, with construction targeted for 2028. I assure the Deputy that the funding is ring-fenced and the commitment is clear. The OPW, the Garda and the Department are working together to ensure momentum is maintained. The Deputy should have no doubt that I will keep him and all public representatives involved informed as the project advances. I welcome ongoing engagement to ensure the community's needs are fully met.

It is welcome that we are making some progress in that there is a commitment that construction will start in 2028. Is the Minister of State confident that timeline will be adhered to? If construction begins in 2028, what is the timeline for finishing? I am concerned that we are still talking about identifying a suitable site for this new Garda station when it was announced not by the last Government, but by the Government before it in 2019, and when a site had been identified for it at that time. I do not really understand that part of it because a site was identified and even announced seven years ago. Why are we still talking about identifying a suitable site when one was identified seven years ago? Is the Minister of State confident that construction will start in 2028?

I am not being critical when I note that the Deputy puts down this question every month. I wish the project would move at the same pace. I recently met with the Minister for justice and asked him for a meeting with him and his officials with a view to speeding up this process. Like the Deputy, I would like to see this delivered. It has been announced and has been going on for quite some time. As I have said in the past, politicians announce things but it takes time to deliver them. Just as a flood scheme takes 11 years, a Garda station normally takes ten, believe it or not. Since this was announced, things have changed in respect of An Garda Síochána. We have to get the development of this site right. It is a highly populated area. The Deputy knows that better than I do. He is there. I have been inundated with contact from Deputy Brabazon, from my colleague, Deputy Heneghan and from Deputy O'Callaghan himself. I assure the Deputy today that I will work with him and those other colleagues to try to deliver this on time.

I welcome his work on this, his commitment to it and his interest in it. That is very welcome. It is also welcome that genuine attempts to move this on are now being made. The Minister of State is right that this is a growing community with a huge population. That community was bitterly disappointed that this was announced in 2019 and that nothing then happened for seven years. The fact that we have the date of 2028 is positive, as is the fact that the Minister of State is engaging with the Department of justice on it. I welcome that. However, I urge that we all collectively keep at this and get this much-needed new Garda station delivered. The area needs other facilities and community infrastructure as well but this is a key component of it.

I can assure the Deputy that I have put a lot of work and effort into this since I spoke to him and my colleagues since he raised this with me before. The commitment is there from the Government in terms of the money. It is about getting the site and the other parts right, and making sure we deliver, as the Deputy said, for the people in the area. They are waiting a long time for that, but I am working within the Departments to make sure we deliver this and get it to construction.