Mr. Pat Leahy:

That was on 26 September 2016. It came to all the chief superintendents in the region. I was one of them at the time and had responsibility for the north inner city - DMR north central. That correspondence requested a report by 8 October 2016, which was 12 days later. On 28 September 2016, I replied with a nil return from Dublin's north inner city and I stipulated that Fitzgibbon Street Garda station had been closed under a separate programme and, therefore, did not qualify. I am quite prepared to pursue that separately, if necessary.

On 29 September 2016, the chief superintendent of DMR south, Chief Superintendent McPartlin, reported a nil return. On 6 October, the chief superintendent of DMR west, Lorraine Wheatley, recommended the opening of Cabra Garda station to 24 hours, that is, extended hours for the station. On 24 October 2016, Chief Superintendent Gerry Russell from DMR east recommended the reopening of Stepaside Garda station on reduced opening hours, namely, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. On 1 November 2016, Assistant Commissioner Jack Nolan took responsibility for the process, again for a short while. On 15 November 2016, the chief superintendent of DMR south, Frank Clerkin, recommended a nil return for the south central division. On 18 November 2016, the chief superintendent for DMR north, Barry O'Brien, recommended the reopening of Rush Garda station, indicating that Lusk Garda station should have been closed initially.

Based on the information that came back from the chief superintendents, three out of six divisions had a nil return. One Garda station - Stepaside - was the only one requested for reopening in line with the criteria that were set out. The reopening of Rush Garda station was recommended but on the basis that Lusk Garda station would close because the indication was it should have been closed in the first tranche of the process. Cabra Garda station was recommended for extended hours.