Dara Murphy (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, has asked me to thank Deputy Feighan for raising this matter and to acknowledge his concern and measured approach in these matters. Members will be aware that decisions in respect of the allocation of resources, including station opening hours, are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the context of her operational requirements and that the Minister has no direct function in this matter. The Minister has been advised that the Garda authorities continue to identify and achieve organisational and operational efficiencies with a view to maintaining a robust and flexible organisation designed to meet existing and emerging policing challenges. Accordingly, decisions in respect of the allocation of resources are subject to ongoing analysis and review by the Commissioner and her senior management team to ensure the best use is made of available Garda resources. In this context, the Garda authorities completed a comprehensive review of their district and station network in 2013. The review was undertaken by An Garda Síochána to identify opportunities to introduce strategic reform to enhance service delivery and to increase operational efficiencies across the organisation.

The revised structures continue to support the Garda's community policing philosophy through the clustering of services at policing hubs. In a point made by the Deputy in his contribution, the centralisation of services facilitates the introduction of an enhanced patrolling system that is operational and intelligence-led. This patrol system will ensure that a high visibility and community oriented policing service continues to be delivered nationwide. It is designed to ensure there will be increased Garda visibility and patrolling hours, as well as increased mobility and flexibility within an area, resulting in an improved policing service to the public. In addition, the system will facilitate an enhanced co-ordination of Garda activity resulting in greater visibility and presence in communities, more effective use of the limited resources across a wider area and hopefully a continued Garda presence in communities.

The Minister has been informed that local Garda management has reviewed the hours during which Boyle Garda station currently is open to the public. In the context of providing an enhanced policing service to the newly enlarged district of Castlerea, these arrangements are designed to free up Garda personnel for outdoor policing duties who otherwise would be engaged in keeping the station open to the public. It is important to note the Minister has been assured that Boyle Garda station will remain a fully functioning station with Garda members providing a 24-hour service seven days a week.

There will be no reduction in the number of Garda personnel assigned to the station. The same level of resources and Garda patrols will continue to be deployed in the area. In addition, the Minister has been informed that the new times during which the station is open to the public will continue to be reviewed to ensure the revised arrangements are delivering an enhanced policing service.

The Minister has been informed by the Garda authorities that the new public opening hours for Boyle Garda station will take effect from Monday, 6 April. They are set out in the table which I have circulated. The Minister has been informed by the Garda authorities that they are satisfied that a comprehensive policing service will continue to be delivered in the area concerned and that the proposed structures will ensure the delivery of an effective and efficient policing service to the community.

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