A local senator who has
lobbied for a new Garda station for Carndonagh has
hit out at interim measures that will instead see a
refurbishment of the existing station.
Senator Cecilia Keaveney said she was "completely
dissatisfied" that the revamp would include a
portable cabin extension.
Carndonagh Garda Station at Malin Road, is to close
for three months on March 1 to allow for the
refurbishment including an internal refit. A Garda
spokesperson this week said it was still envisaged a
new station would be built some time in the future
to allow Carndonagh become the administrative centre
for policing in North Inishowen.
Senator Keaveney outlined her opposition to the
interim refurbishment works when she briefly met
Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy this week at the
British/Irish Interparliamentary Assembly meeting in
Cavan.
"I have raised this matter locally with Supt William
Johnston and with Chief Supt Terry McGinn regularly
and, while monies became restricted I offered
examples of cheaper means to putting a proper
facility in place. I am completely dissatisfied with
the concept of a portable cabin," she said.
"This week again I spoke to Commissioner Murphy and
he is to talk further with me on the matter this
week. There have been other options brought forward
that are less expensive than a green field site and
I have spoken again today with Minister Martin
Manseragh on this.
"In a time of economic prudence there should not be
large sums of money wasted on unsatisfactory interim
measures when relatively small monies would deliver
long-term solutions. I trust sense will win out on
this matter but the Garda and OPW need to think this
through," she added. |
