'Slovakia' Party Criticises Plans to Build New Interior Ministry Headquarters

Bratislava, 31 August (TASR) - The opposition 'Slovakia' party has criticised plans to build new administrative headquarters for the Interior Ministry at a cost of over €85 million, comparing the project to the refurbishment of the former Hviezda (Star) dormitory building, which is set to become the new headquarters of the Defence Ministry, MPs Roman Mikulec and Gabor Grendel (both 'Slovakia'-'For the People' caucus) told a press conference on Monday. According to Mikulec, the party would have expected Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) to first secure higher salaries and better conditions for police officers, firefighters and the mountain rescue service, as he promised. He argues that the ministry's departments need to upgrade both their equipment and their vehicle fleet. The former interior minister is also unhappy that, by this decision, the incumbent minister is binding the future leadership of the ministry to support the project. "It will bind all ministers, as this project is reportedly due to be completed in 2037. So, how many ministers, who will no longer be able to comment on it in any way, will it bind? They won't be able to say whether or not it's a sound concept," stated the MP, pointing out that the proposal wasn't consulted with experts. Mikulec claims that the project document, which was approved by the government last week, provides for the sale of several dormitory buildings. He asked at a press conference where the boarders from the ministry's schools will go. "Ultimately, it won't help if all those officials have their own space and their own office. So, in any case, the plan is to rent additional buildings," he stated. Grendel also pointed out that the ministry intends to fund the project through the sale of property. Several of these properties are in prime locations. "This could end up being a gift to property developers," he said. On 26 August, the government approved a proposal under which a new administrative centre, costing over €85.3 million and with a capacity of between 1,018 and 1,350 staff, is to be built on the premises of the Interior Ministry on Pribinova Street in Bratislava. At the same time, the ministry's outdated headquarters building is to be refurbished. The ministry expects the construction and refurbishment to reduce the fragmentation of staff locations and cut the total number of buildings under its management. It's also expected to result in significant savings in operational and transaction costs. am/df