Martin Conway (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister to the House. I have tabled this Adjournment matter on foot of speculation in the community of Miltown Malbay that a change will be made to the rostering of gardaí in the area. The Minister is familiar with the area because he visited it in the past. Miltown Malbay has a population of between 2,500 and 3,000 people and services a significant hinterland. The population increases significantly during the summer months because, as it is in a coastal area, tourism is a significant industry in the town. The Garda district headquarters is based in Ennistymon, which is approximately ten miles from Miltown Malbay and has a population of approximately 1,000. Lahinch, which is between the two towns, can have a population of up to 10,000 during the summer months.

The biggest fear for the people of Miltown Malbay is that the new rostering system will mean that the two or three gardaí who are currently based at the Garda station in the town will be based at the station in Ennistymon. There is a concern that if the station remains open on a rota basis only, the valuable knowledge of the gardaí who are based in Miltown Malbay will be lost. I refer to their relationships with the community and their intelligence on the ground, for example. In such circumstances, Miltown Malbay would become a remote outpost of Ennistymon, with the squad car being sent down when there is an emergency. The people in the area are worried that there will be a reduction in the quality of the community policing service provided by the local gardaí and that the relationship between the local community and the gardaí who are based at Miltown Malbay garda station will diminish. There is a fear that this development will lead to the eventual closure of the station. I accept that is speculation at this stage. I hope the Minister can reassure us in his reply.