Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 December 2025
195. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if anyone from his Department ever discussed or communicated with anyone in the OPW between 2016 and 27 November 2025 regarding An Garda Síochána renting a property on Spa Road, Phoenix Park, Dublin; and if so, the dates on which they so did, with whom, and the reasons. [68358/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, as amended, the Policing Authority was responsible for the nomination of a person for appointment by the Government as Garda Commissioner from 2016 to 2025. Commissioner O'Sullivan retired in September 2017 and the Policing Authority commenced preparations for the competition to replace her thereafter. As part of this work, it retained consultants to inform its advice to the Minister on the terms and conditions that should apply to the post to attract a wide pool of candidates.
The Policing Authority subsequently advised the then Minister for Justice and Equality in November 2017 on the salary for the post and other matters such as removal expenses, accommodation, education supports for children, etc. Insofar as accommodation was concerned, the Authority advised that in the case of a successful external candidate, it may be appropriate to provide for accommodation or an accommodation allowance given the requirement for the Garda Commissioner to reside in Dublin, and in light of the fact that the Commissioner is on call 24/7 throughout the year.
This was reflected in the Information Booklet for the Commissioner competition published in March 2018 and the fact that accommodation might be provided was covered in the media subsequently.
The Department engaged with OPW on an exploratory basis initially, given that the successful candidate might or might not have been external. At that stage, the Department had no knowledge of the existence of the accommodation at Spa Road and was instead enquiring as to the support that could be provided by OPW in terms of procuring accommodation, e.g. engagement with estate agents, etc. In the course of these discussions it emerged that OPW was refurbishing a property in the Phoenix Park and were prepared to consider providing it, if needed.
The Commissioner was appointed on 26 June 2018 and took up office on 3 September 2018. The Department arranged for the Commissioner to visit the house on two occasions to consider if he wished to live there. Officials engaged with OPW to arrange for those visits. At that stage, from the Department's point of view, it was entirely a matter for the incoming Commissioner as to whether he wished to avail of the property being offered by OPW or whether he wished to consider alternative suitable properties being offered in the private rental market in Dublin.
In the event, the Commissioner decided on the property in Spa Road. It took a number of months to address the security of the residence and to complete the refurbishment.
Through all of this time, officials from my Department engaged with OPW to arrange the viewing of the house by the Commissioner and to be generally apprised of progress on completion of the works once the Commissioner had decided to live there. My Department subsequently engaged with OPW in relation to the sanctioning of the terms of the rental by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
Finally, in July 2025, the Chairman of the OPW spoke briefly to the Secretary General of my Department about the refurbishment of the house in the Phoenix Park in 2017/2018.
