Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

Does the Minister take independent advice apart from that given by the Garda Commissioner when he recommends station closures? Does he take advice from people in his party who are local representatives or from local community organisations? One of the stations that will be closed is Mulranny Garda station in my constituency of County Mayo, which is also the Taoiseach's constituency. It is a small village but the opening of the Great Western Greenway will put some 50,000 people per year through the village. The Garda Commissioner, however, with the Minister's approval, has closed the Garda station. With this extra volume of people - I hope there will be many more - concern is being expressed in the community about the loss of the Garda station which is now open for two hours a day. This does not make sense to the people of Mulranny. One might have made an argument for the closure of the station three years ago, before the Great Western Greenway was developed, but not now. The same could apply all over the country. Does the Minister take independent soundings before he brings the argument in favour of closing Garda stations to the Cabinet?

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