Mr. Martin Callinan:

In the context of station closures, the closure of the 39 stations, approved by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence on 5 December 2011 on my recommendations, and reduced opening hours in ten other stations came into effect by quarter two of this year. In regard to further proposed Garda station closures, I wish to reiterate that An Garda Síochána is committed to providing the best possible policing service to the people within the resources available. The national economic climate requires the best possible use of all organisational resources within An Garda Síochána and in line with this we regularly access the organisation's capabilities and the deployment of those resources to provide a policing service. The needs of the community and the ability of the organisation to contribute to public safety, public service and community protection remains the foremost consideration for me as Commissioner of An Garda Síochána.

Local Garda management closely monitors the allocation of all resources in the context of crime trends, policing needs and other operational strategies in place on a district, divisional and regional level to ensure optimum use is made of Garda resources and the best possible service is provided to the public. Senior Garda management is satisfied that a full and comprehensive policing service continues to be delivered and that current structures in place meet the requirement to deliver an effective and efficient policing service to the community. That situation will be kept under constant review.

An Garda Síochána is continuing to conduct analysis of the Garda station network in 2012 to ensure that it achieves efficiencies in the delivery of the policing service to our communities while maintaining operational resilience. Each regional officer at assistant commissioner level is tasked with conducting an impact assessment on the demands placed on each Garda district and station within their region with a view to recommending future efficiencies while maintaining operational resilience. The analysis of the finding is ongoing. The commitment of An Garda Síochána is to maintain operational effectiveness and resilience but in order to achieve this work must be prioritised and hard decisions must be made in that context.

An Garda Síochána can never over-emphasise the importance of the partnership between us and the community in preventing and detecting crime and maintaining a safe environment for everyone and the pledge of An Garda Síochána is to continue to invest time and energy in those partnerships and relationships to the benefit of all. I will stop there.