Mr. Martin Callinan:

I have indicated how the process started and is working. The call to formulate plans regarding the stations prioritised for closure went out from the centre, that is, my office, to the various assistant commissioners and chief superintendents, and it filtered down to the divisions and districts. Information subsequently came all the way back up. Following that, we began the process of examining the footprint in each of the stations. A range of products came into play in the context of the consideration of the closure of the stations.

The point must be made, however, that this is a matter of managing with very limited funding. It is about managing resources to the optimum. Garda stations are buildings. If the members of An Garda Síochána are not doing in a very proactive manner the type of work they are supposed to be doing, we will not have the types of efficiencies and effectiveness I spoke about. I am not for a moment diminishing the perception and reality represented in the various communities. Of course, we are alive to the sensitivities of all the communities in terms of the closure of Garda stations in the context of closures of post offices, banks, and so on. This is a matter of putting in place a policing model that will replicate the system that obtained previously and which will, I hope, go beyond that. It is question of smart, intelligence-led policing that will grapple with the types of problems that exist. In a considerable number of the stations we are examining, there was no presence greater than one or two hours per week. That reflects reality, I am afraid. One must park this against the perception of taking down the Garda sign on the wall and what this represents for the community.

One of the Deputies raised the issue of elderly people and the fear of crime. Of course, communication is vital, and that is why the substantive portion of the discussion we had during the week was on those very subjects and how we, as managers, would formulate plans to compensate for the closure of the stations such that we can provide the type of service we are espousing at the point of closure.

The rest of the discussion, which will be when we have our stall set out, will involve engaging with our colleagues in the associations and the wider community to ensure there is a loud and clear message that we will provide the same service or a better one to the affected communities. That is a given. It would be foolish to embark on a course of action resulting, intentionally or otherwise, in the failure to provide a service of the type that already exists. It would be folly. As a consequence of all the closures, there will be a cost saving. I have indicated the type of variation that might obtain.