Carndonagh is now one of the priority locations on the Garda Síochána’s building programme.

This was confirmed during a Seaned debate last Wednesday.

Minister Tony Killeen, speaking on behalf of the minister for justice Brian Lenihan, informed the Senate that a site has been identified for a new Garda building in the town and the Office of Public Works (OPW), which has responsibility for the construction and maintenance of Garda accommodation, is in the process of acquiring it.

The minister was responding to a request by Moville-based senator Cecilia Keaveney for the government to clarify its current position on the new facility and on the issue of Garda personnel in Inishowen

Senator Keaveney said: “I raised the issue of having a second Garda station in Carndonagh to compliment the 24-hour station currently under construction in Buncrana a number of times in the Dail and I won the argument.”

Minister Killeen said once the OPW had identified a site it would liaise with the Garda authorities to bring forward the necessary detailed planning for the new station.

Minister Killeen then spoke on the issue of Garda personnel, particularly in the North Inishowen area.

He said: “The personnel strength of the Buncrana Garda district which covers the North Inishowen area on 31 December 2002 was 77 and as of December 31, 2007 was 90. This represents an increase of 13, or 14.44 per cent, in the number of personnel allocated to the Buncrana district since 2002. The Buncrana Garda district is made up of the following Garda stations: Buncrana, Burnfoot, Carndonagh, Clonmany, Culdaff, Malin, Moville and Muff.”

Senator Keaveney said: “I welcome the fact that personnel has increased. We also have a traffic corps, we have two new major stations moving on and I am still aware of the need to keep our existing stations upgraded.

“We as a community want to keep Garda visibility to the core of our community policing agenda and our gardaí deserve the best of facilities to work from. I look forward to continuing progress on both issues.”