Averil Power (Fianna Fail)

I take the opportunity to raise a serious issue, namely, cuts to the Garda budget this year and beyond and the impact this might have on services to the people of Dublin North-East. Earlier this year we were privileged to have the visits to Ireland of President Obama and the Queen. I understand the policing aspects of these visits cost €35 million but the benefits for tourism and other sectors of the economy undoubtedly far outweigh the costs. At the time we were led to believe by the Government that additional funding would be provided for the Garda budget this year to avoid being obliged to make cuts to normal Garda services to cover the cost of the visits. This is entirely appropriate, given that there will be a net gain to the Exchequer overall from the visits and it is only right that money should be provided from other areas to ensure the preservation of policing strength this year.

In May the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter, stated the Government was "anxious to ensure that the capacity of the Garda to provide a full and proper service ... would not be [in any way] impaired" by the cost of the State visits. However, almost five months later he has confirmed to the Dáil that there still is no agreement between himself and his colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, on providing more money for the Garda budget. It is now the end of October and the year's end is approaching swiftly. At this late juncture one may suspect that funding will not be provided for the Garda to cover the costs of the State visits.

In response to a question in the Dáil last Tuesday from my colleague, Deputy Dara Calleary, Fianna Fáil's Front Bench spokesperson on justice, the Minister stated he had asked the Garda Commissioner to examine the possibility of making savings in future years to the Garda Síochána budget by cutting the opening hours of Garda stations and closing some stations nationwide. In recent weeks there have been worrying reports that the stations in Malahide and Howth are among those in line to get the chop from the Government. Were this to happen I would be extremely concerned, as would my colleague, Senator Darragh O'Brien, who looks after the Dublin North area. Malahide Garda station serves Portmarnock in Dublin North-East and Malahide and its hinterland in Dublin North. The Government had discussed previously — in fairness, its predecessor also had been given proposals — possible savings with regard to small rural stations. I refer to stations in which only one garda is based in an area and in which the community could be better served by having that garda out on the beat all the time, rather than being based in a building. However, far from being small stations, the station at Howth has 40 gardaí based in it, while 36 gardaí are based in the station at Malahide. In other words, these are huge stations serving busy urban areas. In conjunction with the Garda stations located at Raheny and Coolock, they provide an incredibly important service for the people of Dublin North-East.

Consequently, I have two issues on which I seek a response from the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, on behalf of his ministerial colleague. There is much concern about this issue in the area from which I come and people seek a clear and fair answer from the Government at this stage to learn what is being planned behind the scenes. First, will the Garda budget be afforded additional funding this year to meet the cost of the State visits and avoid essential front-line services being cut nationwide? Second, will the Minister of State and the Government rule out the closure of Malahide, Howth, Coolock and Raheny Garda stations? While Malahide and Howth Garda stations were mentioned in the media articles, one has no idea what other stations are being examined by the Government. The Minister of State should respond clearly on these two issues. All Members will agree that local Garda stations provide an incredibly important service for the community and even in the context of the recession, if one cuts money from such services now, one will end up paying for it in the long term.