Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom a mheabhrú do mo chomh-Sheanadóirí go bhfuil cur i láthair inniu againn san AV room. I remind my fellow Senators that we have a presentation today in the AV Room from the residents of the direct provision centre in Lisbrook in Galway, which is under threat of closure, and I invite Members to come along and hear their side of the story.

Any Member travelling throughout Ireland during his or her summer recess would have noted that rural Ireland is being devastated by the cutbacks being imposed and the emigration mentioned. This morning a District Court judge lashed out over the closure of courthouses in rural areas and she mentioned in particular the threat to Spiddal and Derrynea in County Galway and Cill Rónáin on the Aran Islands. She said that this is a very detrimental move that undermines the ability of people in those rural areas to attend their local court services. According to the Connacht Tribune, she noted that the closure will also involve an added inconvenience for people from these rural areas where public transport is not always readily available to travel to the city for cases that may not even be reached on the allocated dates as lists will get consequently longer. The Connacht Tribune notes that six more Garda stations in County Galway are facing the chop. This issue and policing in rural Ireland are two of the main issues I have heard raised at a number of meetings held by Sinn Féin. To hear that six small rural Garda stations in County Galway are also in the firing line is of great concern to us. I call on the Minister to address this issue. The stations under threat in Galway are Carna, Inverin, Ros Muc, Recess and Leenane.

In the east of Galway, the stations at Monivea, Kilcolgan, Ardrahan, Kiltormer, New Inn, Ahascragh, Killimor, Corofin, Kilconly, Barnaderg, Milltown, Ballymoe and Williamstown are in serious doubt. Closing more Garda stations would be a very detrimental move. Gardaí are already concerned about the cutbacks in the number of Garda cars and the ability to deliver services in these areas if the stations are closed. It is imperative that the Minister for Justice and Equality comes to the House to debate policing in rural areas and the Courts Service and not pass the buck by saying it is a decision for the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána. It is a decision for Government because the Commissioner is dependent on the funds available to him from the Minister. All of my colleagues would agree with me on that point.