Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)

This motion, with regard to Kilbrittain Garda station, speaks for itself. A review of many rural Garda stations is being conducted by the Department of Justice and Equality. Kilbrittain Garda station has been earmarked as possibly being one of the 200 rural stations which may very well close. This issue has come to the attention of the public in west Cork and meetings have been held. Yesterday, I attended a public meeting attended by 300 people including representatives of various groups, including those representing the elderly, community alert and neighbourhood watch groups, the West Cork Community Partnership and many others. They are concerned that if Kilbrittain Garda station closes, other stations in the constituency such as those in Goleen, Ballydehob, Adrigole, Kealkil, Drinagh and Ballyfeard may very well be for the chop.

I am not a carrier of doom and gloom policy but I am concerned about some of these areas, particularly Kealkil, Adrigole and Goleen, about which I had to make very strong representations in the past to ensure when the garda retired that the local station remained open. One can make the point that it is not the stations which are at issue but the gardaí, but I have always advocated the importance of a garda living in a local community. I criticised the previous Minister because none of the eight gardaí at a particular station in West Cork, which shall remain nameless, lived in the town or community. This was regrettable. Last night, it was stated that the local garda in Kilbrittain actively works in the community. Approximately two years ago, unfortunately a woman was kidnapped and murdered in the Kilbrittain area. Thanks to good detective work by the station in Bandon the culprit was apprehended and is now serving a prison sentence.

I come from Kilcrohane on the Sheep's Head Peninsula in a very rural constituency and we are concerned the closure of rural Garda stations is penny wise and pound foolish. In some cases it has been shown that approximately €3,000 per year will maintain a station. I am concerned about cutbacks in rural Ireland. Previously, I criticised my party in government for closing local post offices. I know these are very difficult times but Garda stations serving very peripheral areas such as Goleen, Kealkil and Kilbrittain should be maintained.

The Minister of State is aware that one of the greatest drug hauls made in the State was off Mizen Head and it received wide publicity. The launch of the culprits came from a little pier in my home village of Kilcrohane. Were it not for the fact that at dawn that day the people involved put diesel into a petrol engine they probably would have got away with it. For ten years I have been making the point that drugs come through areas such as west Cork. In other instances drugs were dropped off in Schull and other areas. Local vigilance is very important and a local garda in conjunction with community alert and neighbourhood watch groups can be very effective. I urge the Government to be very careful when making decisions on closing Garda stations.

Last night at the meeting, Superintendent MacEoin stated that as far as he was aware no decision had been taken on any station. The community in Kilbrittain is very proactive and is not taking the risk of waiting until the horse has bolted to close the stable door.