New State Forensic Science Laboratory for Celbridge – Lawlor

Fine Gael TD for Kildare North, Anthony Lawlor, has said that a new State Forensic Science Laboratory is to be established in Celbridge as part of the Government’s Capital Programme.

“The Government has today (Tuesday) announced a ?billion six year Capital Investment Plan to help with the ongoing work to secure the recovery, to restore all the jobs lost in the recession by 2018 and to get unemployment down to 6% by 2020.

“Investment in our justice system is an important feature of the Plan and I am pleased to announce that a new Forensic Science Laboratory is to be established at the Backweston site in Celbridge. ?million has been set aside for this project and construction will commence at Backweston in 2019.

“In addition to this major project, our justice system will also be bolstered by an additional ?million investment in new and existing Garda ICT systems, a further allocation of ?million for Garda cars, ?million for Garda Station refurbishment and ?million for Courts refurbishment.

“Roads funding is also a critical part of the Capital Investment Plan and I am pleased to say that the M7 Naas-Newbridge road widening scheme and the Sallins By-Pass are being funded by the Plan.

“This is an affordable, responsible Capital Investment Plan which is consistent with the Government’s plan to eliminate Government borrowing by 2018. We will never go back to the bad old days of boom and bust. The days of Fianna Fáil blank cheques are gone. 

“The Capital Plan is also necessary to promote regional economic growth and create jobs, and the projects committed to are reliant on the choices made by this, and the next Government to continue the recovery. Fine Gael and Labour have proven that we can work together to deliver a strong economy. The decisions taken by this Government have brought us to an important time in our recovery which is still fragile and incomplete. We must continue to manage the national finances carefully or risk falling backwards.  

“We are now the fastest growing economy in Europe and we are creating over 1,300 new jobs a week, yet we know that not every family has felt the benefits yet. This investment plan will help spread the recovery around the country so that every person and family can benefit and enjoy a better quality of life.”