Committee Reports > List of Committees > Dáil > 1939 > Committee of Public Accounts > Report - Appropriation Accounts 1936 - 1937

APPENDIX V.

OFFICIAL GARAGE ACCOMMODATION FOR CARS OF GARDA SIOCHANA OFFICERS.

The particular garages referred to were those at Strokestown and Mullingar Gárda Barracks. The Strokestown Barracks are held under a lease of twentyone years from 13th June, 1918, by the Office of Public Works, which is responsible for the maintenance of the building, while the Mullingar Barracks are State-owned property.

As the discussion was mainly on the structural defects of a particulor garage, it is proper to say, in order that the position may be presented fully and correctly to the Public Accounts Committee, that even if a garage, in good repair, is available at a Station, official garage facilities are not necessarily deemed to be provided, within the meaning of the regulations. Divisional and District Officers of the Force are required, under the regulations, to provide themselves with motor cars for use on duty; most of them are married men living in private residences to which garages are attached, and any officer who finds it more convenient for the effective discharge of his work to house his car at his home is allowed to do so without financial penalty, even if an official garage is available. The great majority of the officers do, in fact, keep their cars at their dwellings, and it is in the public interest that they should do so. In the partcular cases mentioned, Strokestown and Mullingar, the officers concerned do not reside in the Station. Apart from their personal convenience, it would be inconvenient for them, as regards the official use of their cars, to garage the cars at the Station garages even if these were in excellent repair, and it would be contrary to the recognised practice to require them to do so, or to reduce their allowance because they do not do so.

Secretary, Department of Justice.

2nd June, 1938.