Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

-----and leaving the 350 Garda stations that would provide a far greater comfort for people who are fearful in their homes.

This recommendation is nonsense. Everyone knows the presence of gardaí in local communities contributes to the prevention of crime, reassures people and is a visible presence of gardaí. It does not make sense to close these Garda stations, particularly when the saving is so small.

If this were a big question about some of the major recommendations in the McCarthy report I would understand the Tánaiste saying the Government is reflecting on the matter and has not yet made a decision, and so on. This is an issue the Tánaiste could put to bed now. She should reassure people that local Garda stations will not be closed and that she will find the million euro savings from elsewhere in the State's budget.

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