CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY

 Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, serving and retired members, I am very pleased to be here with you today on what is a very special occasion for Buncrana and the surrounding area. My thanks to the Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner Kieran Kenny for their warm words of welcome and to my colleague Minister Martin Mansergh.

The opening of this new Garda facility is a very significant development for any community and it is a development which I know has been welcomed here in Buncrana, both by the local community and by members of An Garda Síochána.

The construction of this new District headquarters, at a cost of over €7.5 million represents a small part of the very significant developments which have occurred in the provision of Garda accommodation in recent years. This station represents a long term investment in the policing infrastructure of this area and is part of a major programme of renewal of Garda accommodation throughout the country which has taken place over recent years. That programme has seen an investment of over €227 million since 2005, in both capital investment and maintenance.

It is very rewarding for me, as Minister, to be able to witness at first hand the benefits of this investment and the significant improvements in Garda accommodation in many areas throughout the State. In addition to today's opening ceremony, I have in recent times also had the pleasure of opening new Garda stations in Irishtown, Finglas, Leixlip, Ballymun, Granard, Dunmanway, Claremorris and Ballymote. 

The completion of these stations represents just a small part of the overall modernisation and change programme within An Garda Síochána.

The opening of this station at Buncrana is a clear indication of the Government's commitment to An Garda Síochána and to this community. That commitment is, I know, matched by every member of An Garda Síochána and is reflected in the many initiatives undertaken by local Gardaí in areas such as Community Alert, Neighbourhood Watch and Ethnic Liaison.

I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the tremendous work done by the members of An Garda Síochána who have served and who continue to serve the people of Buncrana and Donegal as a whole.

Before finishing, I would again like to acknowledge the very significant contribution of all of those involved in delivering on this project, the building contractors, the Office of Public Works personnel and of course local Garda personnel.