Lorraine Clifford Lee (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to debate this important issue.I am looking for an update on the reopening of Rush Garda station. Rush station was one of the six Garda stations that were announced in November 2017 to be reopened as part of a pilot project. That was November 2017 and now we are in February 2019 and I am looking for an update. The people of Rush were delighted when it was announced they would get their Garda station back. They severely felt the loss of the Garda station and the diminishing of the Garda numbers in north County Dublin.

In case the Minister of State does not know, Rush is a small coastal town in north County Dublin with a population of some 10,000. It has grown rapidly in recent years and that growth is set to continue. Like all of north County Dublin, the population is exploding there, but we have seen a 20% decline in Garda numbers in the area. This particular Garda station was closed back in 2012. The people in Rush are very anxious about their personal security and the security within the town. We were very happy when this reopening was announced. I would like an update on what stage it is at. The last time I raised this issue was in May 2018 and at that point there was a discussion between the OPW and An Garda Síochána with regard to an assessment of needs. I was informed that this assessment was nearing an end. I would appreciate if the Minister of State could give us an update and, as far as possible, a timeline for when we could see Rush Garda station open.