Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if any consultation took place with the Garda Representatives’ Association in the drafting of the Policing Plan for 2013 which recommended the closure of 100 Garda Stations across the State. [11949/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that An Garda Síochána articulates its strategic plans by way of a Strategy Statement and an Annual Policing Plan. The Strategy Statement 2013-2015 which was published on 25 January 2013 will be actioned through a series of three annual Policing Plans, the first of which is the Policing Plan for 2013. A significant consultation process was undertaken in the preparation of the Strategy Statement 2013-2015 and this process included consultations with all the representative associations. I am also informed by the Garda authorities that all Garda staff associations were briefed on the Organisation Change and Development programme which included station closures and district amalgamations.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if any consultation took place with local communities in the drafting of the Policing Plan for 2013. [11950/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that An Garda Síochána articulates its strategic plans by way of a Strategy Statement and an Annual Policing Plan. The Strategy Statement 2013-2015 which was published on 25 January 2013 will be actioned through a series of three annual Policing Plans, the first of which is the Policing Plan 2013.

A significant consultation process was undertaken in the preparation of the Strategy Statement 2013-2015 and this included the following activities: A questionnaire was placed on the Garda website which was completed by 1,544 respondents; A questionnaire was placed on the Garda portal which was completed by 444 members of the Garda organisation; Letters requesting submissions were sent to 159 organisations with whom An Garda Síochána interacts; Face to face interviews were held with in excess of 30 of the organisation’s key partners and stakeholders including selected community groups; The views/proposals of all Assistant Commissioners and Executive Directors in relation to the policing of the State for the next three years were requested and submitted; The results of this extensive consultation were used to inform and develop the Strategy Statement 2013-2015 and the Policing Plan 2013.