John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to be associated with the messages of sympathy that have been sent to the Donohoe family. The sad and tragic events of recent days have reminded everyone of the important and dangerous tasks that gardaí carry out to protect citizens throughout this country. I suppose this motion is about ensuring communities are protected and policing is administered in as efficient a way as possible. That is what is at stake here. It is obvious that communities see the local Garda station as a visible presence and as a point of contact.

Following the recent announcements, six Garda stations in Mayo - those at Blacksod, Ballycastle, Ballyglass, Ballyvary, Hollymount and Lahardane - are to close this weekend. I met a deputation from Ballycastle in the last week who request either a deferral or a reversal of the decision, based on the fact it is a rural community and that €52,000 was spent on the Garda station only a couple of years ago. The Garda authorities, on the other hand, say there will be increased visibility and increased patrolling in the Ballycastle area as a result of the policing programme that will be put in place. What needs to happen, if closures go ahead, is that the public, in particular the elderly, would become very quickly aware there is a point of contact for them, there is a plan that works and that this will be changed and reviewed if necessary.

The Minister mentioned there would be points of contact or clinics for people in rural areas. I seek clarification in this regard given the Garda authorities seem to be suggesting this will not necessarily happen. I want to know whether it will happen or not because it might solve some of the issues.

We are all aware that recruitment to the Garda Reserve finished in 2009, so it is not this Government that stopped it. Is there a possibility of the expansion of the role of the Garda Reserve to enhance some of the policing?

The Minister said the Garda Síochána had recently acquired a number of vehicles which are being converted into mobile Garda offices. Will these be available throughout the country and will one be available for Mayo? There is a gap between what communities want and perceive and what gardaí say they are providing. There needs to be a meeting of minds on this because, at present, many communities are against the Garda stations closing.

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