James Heffernan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her reply but I do not believe that she believes what is in that reply. We all know that times have changed but how can we possibly maximise a garda's time by taking him or her from the station in a local community where he or she was doing a job among people he or she knew and putting him or her in another station a few miles down the road? How is that a maximum use of his or her time?

Policing has not changed. It relies on good, solid information and that can only be got from knowing the people one is working with in a community, knowing their families and everything about them. A garda involved in a local area knows the people in that area inside out. He or she can stop crime before it ever becomes an issue. I cannot understand how we can maintain a strong connection with the community by closing down rural Garda stations. It does not make sense.