Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 39: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the timeline associated either with making decisions on the closures or on the actual closures of garda stations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31294/11]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 41: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of eligible garda who have indicated, by 30 September 2011, that they will be retiring before February 2012; the options examined by the review of the Garda Commissioner in relation to potential closure of garda stations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31364/11]

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Ceann Comhairle has allowed Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh to substitute for Deputy Jonathan O'Brien in regard to Question No. 39.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 41 together.

Members of the Garda Síochána who have reached 50 years of age and have at least 30 years service are eligible to retire on full pension. There are some 900 members of the force currently in this category.

It is estimated that the total number of departures from the force in 2011 will be approximately 500 but we do not yet know how many Garda members will retire before 29 February next year. So far, approximately 40 members have indicated to the Commissioner that they intend to retire between the beginning of January and the end of February next but members have until the end of November to give the required three months notice of an intention to retire by then.

These figures must be seen in the context of plans agreed by the previous Government as part of its compliance with the terms of the EU-IMF agreement to reduce Garda numbers to 13,500 by the end of this year and to 13,000 by 2014. However, what will ultimately determine the sustainable level of Garda numbers is the level of budgetary provision that can be made for the force and the House will be conscious that difficult decisions will have to be made right across the public sector in order to bring our public finances back into balance.

As with every other public sector organisation, therefore, the reality is that the Garda Síochána will have to manage with reduced resources. The Garda Commissioner is, therefore, quite properly reviewing all aspects of the Garda Síochána's policing model so as to ensure that Garda resources are managed and deployed in the most appropriate manner to meet existing and emerging policing requirements.

The Garda Commissioner's review will examine all aspects of current policing, including the deployment of personnel, the utilisation of modern technologies and the operation of Garda stations. While no decision has been taken, a reduction in public opening hours in some Garda stations and the closure of other Garda stations will be issues that the Garda Commissioner will need to address as part of the review. He may well need to consider whether, in appropriate cases, a better policing service could be delivered to a local community by having gardaí out on patrol rather than in a station.

I will carefully consider the outcome of the review and the Commissioner's policing plan for next year with the objective of ensuring that priority is given to the maintenance of front line services. I will also continue to discuss with my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, the budgetary provision to be made for the Garda Síochána for 2012 and beyond.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Ar dtús ba mhaith liom comhbhrón a dhéanamh le clann Gharda Ciarán Jones, a fuair bás agus é ag déanamh iarracht cuidiú leis an bpobal oíche aréir. Tá a fhios agam gur luadh a bhás níos luaithe.

The Minister is aware of a major concern about the closure of Garda stations, particularly in rural areas. Predatory gangs are increasingly targeting some isolated communities and the elderly in particular. What additional resources will be focused on these communities if their Garda stations close? Will the Minister guarantee that savings made from the closure of stations will be spent on enhancing Garda activities in the areas affected? Otherwise, this cutback will affect areas that have already seen an increase in predatory attacks.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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It is important that the Deputy realise that, if savings are to be affected, they will be necessary. We must reduce public expenditure in 2012 by a minimum of €3.6 billion to meet our EU-IMF requirements. In the context of my Department, I must identify savings that can result. The Garda Commissioner, as the person in charge of the Garda and making operational decisions, must identify appropriate savings. Having said this, we are anxious to ensure that front line services are maintained and that local communities are properly protected.

The substantial review that is under way is considering how to recalibrate the manner in which the Garda operates to provide the protections necessary to local communities and to ensure that those who seek to engage in unlawful behaviour and those who prey on the elderly in rural communities are given no quarter. These issues are part and parcel of the consideration of the approach to be taken. This is one of the reasons I mentioned that, in circumstances in which it may prove necessary to close some small local rural Garda stations, it is essential that appropriate Garda patrols are available to provide the necessary protections. Unfortunately, we no longer live in an environment where if savings are affected in one area, the money saved can be spent in another area.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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On 20 September, the Minister told the House that he was due to receive the Commissioner's proposals on this matter. Has he received them or when does he expect to receive the Commissioner's policing plan? Given that some closures may be necessary, does the Minister envisage discussing the plan with, for example, joint policing committees or people who have on-the-ground experience as opposed to just with the Commissioner, who is slightly removed from what is occurring on the ground, to ensure an effective community response in the event of a change in the delivery of services?

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I expect to receive the Commissioner's draft plan by the end of October - if not by the end of this week, then next Monday. It is a draft plan to which detailed consideration must be given. I am conscious that the Commissioner is the correct person to make operational decisions and I should not interfere with his operational judgment, but I will give careful consideration to the draft plan when it is submitted to my Department. Shortly thereafter, I would expect appropriate decisions to be made.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Will the Minister confirm that the savings will not be ploughed back into An Garda Síochána and that it will therefore suffer that loss on top of the loss resulting from the recruitment ban?

Have there been any plans regarding the intended use of the buildings if and when they are closed? Is it intended to sell them off or to put them to some other State use?

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I remind the Deputy that this State is effectively in receivership and that under the EU-IMF agreement we have an obligation by the end of this year to reduce Garda numbers from 14,500 to 13,500. The previous Government signed up to that commitment but there was no prospect of that reduction being achieved. At best, the Garda force numbers in the context of that agreement will reduce to 14,000 by the end of this year. The obligation we have is to reduce expenditure. It must be reduced across all the different areas of the justice spend, including the Garda. We are examining how we can use reduced resources more efficiently to properly maintain front-line services and to facilitate the Garda Síochána, as the excellent force that it is, to continue to meet all its obligations, provide to the community the protection it requires, continue the effective investigation of crime and ensure the prosecution of those who have broken the law.