Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is primarily responsible for the distribution of Garda resources in the State and, as Minister, I have no direct role in the matter.

I have, however, been informed by the Garda authorities that Garda personnel assigned throughout the country, together with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy, are continually monitored and reviewed and are determined by a number of factors, including population, crime trends and other operational strategies, as dictated by the policing needs of each individual division. The Policing Authority is also examining the question of allocating appropriate resources to different areas.

I am advised that some 125 Garda stations operate on a 24-hour basis throughout the State, with 439 not operating on that basis. Certain stations operate up to 14 hours per day, while the opening hours of others depend on the availability of resources. The Garda authorities are satisfied that the restructured station network continues to provide the necessary levels of policing services through a centralisation of services which in turn has facilitated the introduction of enhanced patrolling systems that are operational and intelligence led. As we recruit more gardaí there will be more visibility, which is important, and more community-oriented police services. There are several benefits which unfortunately I do not have time to detail. We have the funding for 800 Garda recruits and up to 500 civilians and the capital plan provides €205 million for investment in the information and telecommunications infrastructure.

I have requested the Garda Commissioner, while fully cognisant of her statutory functions in relation to the distribution of Garda resources in the State, to identify six stations for reopening on a pilot basis in line with the commitment in the programme for a partnership Government. This pilot scheme is intended to feed into the wider review being overseen by the Policing Authority into, among other things, the dispersal of Garda stations in rural areas. The Authority has formally requested the Garda Síochána Inspectorate to examine the dispersal and use of resources available to the Garda Síochána in the delivery of policing services to local communities and to make recommendations.

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