Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Statistics published in recent days show a low number of gardaí in many rural Garda stations. No doubt the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice and Equality will use this to justify the closure of Garda stations throughout rural Ireland as part of the review of the Garda Síochána's capacity to operate with reduced resources. Almost a third of all Garda stations are staffed by just one garda, 88 have just two serving gardaí while 40 stations are without any permanent garda assigned to duty. This should not be used as a reason to close stations but to reconsider the ban on new recruits. Counties such as Donegal, Galway and Mayo will face massive closures due to this ban.

It can take a squad car from the nearest station up to two hours to get to its destination. In one recent incident in Donegal, a patrol car had to travel 45 miles to attend a serious arson incident. Many areas in Donegal have been plagued by burglary and vandalism, where criminals have no fear because they know they will not be caught. Some people living on their own are so afraid that, when they go to bed at night, they leave €50 on the kitchen table in case the house is burgled in the hope the burglar will take it and leave. That is no way to live. The fact that this is going on before any further cuts have been made makes it more worrying. We have already seen the closure of almost 40 Garda stations this year and it is reported that up to 80 more face closure. This is not efficient, it is just dangerous. Can the Taoiseach inform the House of his plan for tackling crime in rural areas and how he equates fewer stations and fewer gardaí with more efficiency? How many more closures will we see by the year's end and for how many more years will we see closures happen before the recruitment embargo is lifted to ensure the safety of all citizens?

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