Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

I thank the Senator for raising the issue. I appreciate that as a public representative he is concerned about the matter. I sometimes wonder whether some of the Fianna Fáil Senators and Deputies are living in a parallel universe. The Senator will recall that the last Government entered the European Commission, ECB and IMF bailout agreement, having managed to totally destroy the economy and overspend to a degree that was extraordinary. As a consequence, the Government entered into an agreement which requires a reduction in Garda numbers and the reduction will be effected over the coming years and is part of the agreement to reduce the numbers in the public service. The steps taken must be seen in the context of the comprehensive review of expenditure, conducted not just by the Department of Justice and Equality but by the Garda Commissioner to ensure that resources are used efficiently and to the maximum benefit of the community.

As the Senator knows I recently laid before this House the policing plan for 2012. This plan, prepared by the Garda Commissioner under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, sets out the proposed arrangements for the policing of the State during the coming year. Under the plan, 31 Garda stations will be closed in 2012, and a further eight Garda stations, which are currently non-operational, will be formally closed. In addition, the public opening hours of ten Garda stations, including Malahide Garda station and two in my constituency, will be reduced. These stations, currently open to the public on a 24-hour basis, will in future be open to the public from 8 am until 10 p.m. each day. It is important to emphasise that we are talking about closing the access to these stations during the night, not closing the stations. The stations will still be used for the provision of general policing services for the locality.

The purpose of this change is not to directly save money, but to make better use of resources, a crucial objective not only for the Garda Síochána but for the entire public service. Instead of having gardaí behind the public counter in these stations during the night, when few people come into the station, those gardaí will be available for front-line operational duties, which will benefit the Senator's constituents. As I said, this is the implementation of a long-promised reform measure.

The reality is that the demand for the services available at the public counter in a Garda station during the night is very limited. People who contact the Garda Síochána during the night generally do so in circumstances of operational urgency, not for the more administrative-type services normally provided over the counter. These services, such as completing forms and authenticating documents, are extremely valuable, but do not need to be available round the clock in every Dublin station, especially considering the proximity of other Garda stations which will still be open to the public on a 24-hour basis. We currently have 703 Garda stations, 47 of which are located in Dublin. I am anxious to ensure that we use the force to the best possible effect to engage in front-line activity as opposed to late night administrative duties. By freeing-up gardaí from counter duty, this change will mean that more gardaí than would otherwise be the case can be deployed on operational duties. This will be a much better use of resources and mean a better policing service. This is the professional judgment of the Garda Commissioner.

The Garda Síochána, like all public service agencies, will have reduced resources in the times ahead, and must introduce efficiencies to make the best use of those resources. This change, which is targeted for introduction in the first quarter of 2012, is just such an efficiency. I firmly believe that the Garda Commissioner should be supported in introducing such reforms. There is no reason of any nature for local concern nor for any Member of this House to foment such local concern. The Commissioner has reiterated the commitment of the Garda Síochána to provide a professional and effective policing service, and I have full confidence in the force's capacity to do this in Malahide and in every area across the country.

It is the Garda Commissioner who makes operational decisions of this nature and the policing report he furnished to me was brought to Government. Essentially, the Commissioner in consultation with the Minister for Justice and Equality makes the decisions in this area. The Commissioner makes the operational decisions and I do not wander around the country trying to identify which stations may close early or which stations should be closed. Let me reiterate that we are not on the slippery slope, as the Senator suggested. I cannot predict what future decisions may be made by the Garda Commissioner, but let me give some examples. As the Senator is aware, Rush Garda station opened for a limited number of hours and its closure will not result in fewer gardaí in the area because there is another Garda station in reasonable proximity and in the Commissioner's judgment, gardaí will be more readily available for front-line services.

The efficiencies sought to be effected by the decisions in respect of the closure of certain stations and the shorter opening hours of others will ensure a more efficient use of Garda resources in the interests of the taxpayers. This is the first stage of a study examining the numbers of people using individual stations, and operational and policing needs. I expect the Commissioner will further revisit the issue of Garda stations for 2013.

I give the Senator's constituents every assurance that this will not affect operational frontline services, rather it will ensure that members of the force will not be sitting behind a desk late at night but will be ready to engage in front-line policing activities. That is the view of the Commissioner and I fully support the action he has taken.