Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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391. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide, in tabular form, a list of all Garda Síochána stations closed since 2013, including the name of the station, the district, the division and the cost of reopening each of these stations. [33344/15]

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 led to the closure of 139 Garda Stations and the amalgamation of 32 Garda districts during the course of 2012 and 2013.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that since 2013 and up to the present day, the period covered by the Deputy's question, the only Garda station closures were in the Clare Division. On 31st January 2013, Kilmihil Garda Station closed and the policing services for the Kilmihil sub-district were transferred to Lissycasey Garda Station. Lissycasey Garda Station was then closed on 2nd March 2015 following the reopening of Kilmihil Garda Station.

I am further advised that Garda Stations which were closed under the Garda Síochána Policing Plan for 2013 were returned to and are now under the control of the Office of Public Works (OPW). The future use of such properties is a matter for the OPW as the owners of the properties.

The cost associated with re-opening any such property as a Garda Station would have to be determined following a full technical examination of the property by the OPW, on a case by case basis, to assess the works required to render the property fit for purpose to operate as a Garda Station. In addition, the Garda Authorities would, of course, need to examine the implications of deploying Gardaí to man the station during public office hours, thus diverting Gardaí from being available in the community confronting crime head on.