Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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629. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding rural Garda stations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31135/15]

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.

The Garda District and Station Rationalisation Programme was implemented in An Garda Síochána during 2012 and 2013. The objective of the review 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 organisations resource base would best meet public demand. The revised structures continue to provide policing support through the restructuring of the station network. The centralisation of services facilitates the introduction of enhanced patrolling systems that are operational and intelligence led. This patrol system ensures that a high visibility and community oriented policing service continues to be delivered throughout the country and that yields the following benefits:

- Increased Garda visibility and patrol hours

- Increased mobility and flexibility within an area resulting in an improved policing service to the public

- Enhanced co-ordination of Garda activity resulting in a greater visibility and presence in the communities

- More effective use of limited resources across a wider area

- Continued Garda presence in communities

I am informed by the Garda authorities that Garda personnel assigned throughout the country, together with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy, are continually monitored and reviewed and is determined by a number of factors including population, crime trends and as the policing needs of each individual Division dictates. Such monitoring ensures that optimum use is made of Garda resources, and the best possible Garda service is provided to the general public.

I am further informed by the Garda authorities that they continue to have a focused, targeted and integrated approach to criminals involved in committing burglaries and will continue to develop and implement strategies available to dismantle and disrupt criminal networks, utilising advanced analytical and intelligence methods to facilitate targeted operations to enable early intervention and prevention of such crimes. Local Gardaí play a significant role in disrupting, preventing and detecting suspects and groups engaged in these criminal activities through focused and targeted roles and community policing initiatives including visible policing. Neighbourhood Policing fora are also used to highlight to residents incidents of burglary or other criminal activity in their locality.