Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 177: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will confirm that there will be no change to the status of Bawnboy Dowra and Killeshandra Garda Stations, County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28651/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Under the Garda Síochána Acts 2005 - 2007, the Commissioner is required to submit, before November of each year, a policing plan for the forthcoming year. In preparing the Policing Plan, the Garda Commissioner reviews all aspects of the Garda Síochána's policing model, including the deployment of personnel, the utilisation of modern technologies and the operation of Garda stations, both in terms of opening hours and possible closures. In addition, all Divisional Officers are asked to assess the level of activity in each Garda Station in their area. It must be stressed that the key objective of any station closure is to promote the more efficient and effective deployment of resources rather than secure modest cash savings. The Policing Plan for 2013 has not yet been prepared and therefore it is not possible to say at this stage what it may contain, although it is expected that it will contain measures to address the ongoing issue of rationalisation of the Garda station network.