Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding Garda stations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39248/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The key objective in relation to the closures of Garda stations is the more effective deployment of Gardaí on operational duties. Critics of these closures are in effect arguing that we should not close even one single Garda station - currently there are 664 - despite the revolution that has taken place in transport, communications and technology across the country.

The Garda Commissioner is currently engaged in an assessment of the potential for further efficiencies in the structure and organisation of the Garda Síochána as part of the preparation of the draft policing plan for 2013. This plan is due to be submitted to me by the end of October this year and I expect that it will contain proposals for the further rationalisation of Garda stations and Districts. In the meantime it would be premature, in advance of its submission, to speculate on specific measures which it might contain.

While this assessment will be based on an evaluation of the policing needs of present day Ireland, policing arrangements in comparable jurisdictions can provide useful perspective. In that regard there are many clear points of similarity as between Ireland and Scotland.