Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise this very topical issue of the re-opening of Stepaside Garda station. This station was one of those closed between 2012 and 2013 when 139 were shut due to budget cuts. I have always opposed the closing of this Garda station and I endeavoured, particularly during the general election campaign, to say to the residents of Stepaside that I am very committed to having this Garda station re-opened, although I could never give a guarantee in that regard. The Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality has said there will be a review in May and I very much welcome that. I have a number of questions for the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee.

There is a good argument, as far as I am concerned and as far as the Policing Authority should be concerned, for the re-opening of this particular Garda station above and beyond any other one. There is a 10% increase in population - 2,632 people in Stepaside itself.

I also take this opportunity to mention the Stepaside business people, who seem to have been lost in all of the media coverage of this Garda station and who started the petition. Mr. Des Kennedy was one of them. There is Mr. Michael Fleming, there is Garda Pat Cullen, who has acted as a community garda liaison, and Mr. John McCluskey of The Step Inn. I refer to many of the residents' committees, such as of Leopardstown Hall, Sandyford Hall and The Gallops.

There have been a lot of issues regarding the exploitation of the fact that there is no Garda station in the Stepaside area. We have had incidents at Halloween. Ms Antonette Cunningham, who is the vice president of the AGSI, criticised the station's closure and cited a significant increase in burglaries in the area, and I am very concerned about that. It was reported last year that there was a 50% increase in burglaries recorded in the general environs of Stepaside since the closure of this Garda station, and with the growing population and an increased demographic, it is clear that this community needs a Garda station.

The questions I would like to put to the Minister are as follows. Why was the report's publication delayed for so long? It is now four years since the closure of this Garda station. The review is taking so long.

What criteria will be used to determine which Garda stations will be re-opened? Obviously, there is a concern in Stepaside. The Policing Authority is an autonomous authority and has to be independent. Even so, I would like to know what criteria will determine which Garda station will re-open.

How long is it expected to take, following the publication of the Garda review in May, for the six pilot Garda stations which have been outlined in the programme for Government to be picked? How long will that pilot period be? What factors will determine whether the stations will remain open after the pilot period?

Will the stations to be re-opened under the pilot scheme be upgraded and refurbished as per the programme for Government's promise for, "new and refurbished Garda Stations throughout the country, which will be critical to delivering effective policing". That is enunciated quite clearly in the programme for Government. I was involved in those negotiations. I would like to see whether that will be delivered in the case of Stepaside Garda station if that station is picked as a pilot station.

What level of staffing will be given to the re-opened stations? There is no point in having a Garda station that is not manned. If Stepaside Garda station is successful in being picked by the Policing Authority, I would like to know whether it will be staffed. I note there is Operation Thor, but there is some comfort to be taken by the people knowing that gardaí are there in the station available to take calls when its needed.

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