Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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404. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason the compensatory measures announced by her predecessor when closing Garda stations, including community and mobile Garda clinics, have not been implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30349/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The formulation of proposals in relation to the opening and closing of Garda stations is a matter, in the first instance, for the Garda Commissioner in the context of annual policing plans, as provided for in section 22 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005.

In this regard the Deputy will be aware that the Garda Síochána carried out a comprehensive review of its district and station network in 2012 and 2013. The objective was to identify opportunities to introduce strategic reforms to enhance service delivery, increase efficiency and streamline practices within the organisation. The review concluded that a revised district and station network commensurate with the organisation resource base would best meet public demand. The resulting Garda District and Station Rationalisation Programme aims to provide a more effective and efficient allocation of resources through a programme of restructuring and reconfiguration of service delivery methods.

Against that background, Community Policing is the underpinning philosophy and ethos through which An Garda Síochána delivers a service to the community and the use of policing clinics is an established practice in community policing models in other jurisdictions. Garda clinics are small public Garda facilities that provide basic Garda services to the communities they serves and augment District/Sub District Garda Stations. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the use of such clinics has increased since the launch of the National Model of Community Policing in 2009 and more recently they have served to counteract the closure of Garda stations around the country.

I am further informed that Garda clinics are run by community policing members with the intention of putting the needs of our communities at the centre of Garda services and improving An Garda Síochána’s ability to identify and anticipate community needs through pro-active engagement and effective service provision. Such clinics are delivered in partnership with the community and are, where possible, conducted at community orientated venues that are cost effective, neutral in nature or might attract a high footfall.

Garda authorities advise that the function of Garda clinics will differ even within districts and that in addition to focusing on topics such as neighbourhood watch, crime prevention and advice to older persons, these clinics also support the delivery of various Garda services traditionally provided at Garda stations, e.g. passport applications, driving license production, age card applications and crime prevention advice. Clinics are generally open for 1-2 hours and are as consistent as possible in terms of their frequency and venue.