Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There is no doubt that the closure of almost 100 Garda stations today represents a serious blow to rural Ireland in particular but also to some urban communities. These are the very communities which have already suffered under the cuts regime of this and the previous Government. We have seen in recent weeks and months a spate of burglaries targeting vulnerable and elderly people. For many communities, the local Garda station provides peace of mind and allows people to sleep soundly in their beds. The Government has decided, however, to continue with the implementation of Fianna Fáil's so-called national recovery plan from 2010 by making further Garda cuts.

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