Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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190. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans for the Garda Síochána station in Santry in County Dublin including any plans to further change its status; if a further change in status will affect the ability of An Garda Síochána to effectively police Santry and Whitehall given the previous cut to the station in 2013 and the closure of the Whitehall station; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3695/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Commissioner that the Garda Station in Santry is a fully functional station which is in use and there are no plans to alter its status.

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 conjunction with the newly established Policing Authority, in the context of annual policing plans, as provided for in section 20 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, as amended.

The Garda District and Station Rationalisation Programme implemented in An Garda Síochána during 2012 and 2013 resulted in the closure of 39 Garda stations in 2012 and 100 Garda stations in 2013. The Garda Station in Whitehall was closed in 2012 and in accordance with the Rationalisation Programme, was returned to the control of the Office of Public Works (OPW). The use of such returned properties is, accordingly, a matter for the OPW which agreed to make the former station available for the relocation of the Office of the State Pathologist and the Dublin City Mortuary, and to carry out the necessary refurbishment work.

The primary objective of the Programme was to identify opportunities to introduce strategic reforms to enhance service delivery, increase efficiency and streamline practices within An Garda Síochána.

The Programme was based on a review of the Garda Station Network by Garda management which concluded in relation to certain stations, many of which were only open part-time and manned by a single Garda, that resources could be better deployed and more effectively used on the front line if those stations no longer had to be staffed and maintained.In reaching these conclusions, Garda management reviewed all aspects of the Garda Síochána policing model, including the deployment of personnel, the utilisation of modern technologies and the overall operation of Garda stations. The Programme supports the provision of a modern 21st century policing service for both urban and rural areas and allows front line Gardaí to be managed and deployed with greater mobility, greater flexibility, and in a more focused fashion, particularly with regard to various targeted police operations. As a result of the Programme, communities have benefitted from increased Garda visibility and increased patrolling hours which has enabled An Garda Síochána to deliver an improved policing service to the public.

It is understood from discussions with the Garda Commissioner that the current consolidation process is largely completed. There are no proposals to either re-open or close any Garda stations in the Policing Plan for 2016.

The Garda Station Building and Refurbishment Programme 2016-2021, which I announced in late October with my colleague: the Minister of State at the OPW; is based on agreed priorities which are established by An Garda Síochána. Over thirty locations around the country will benefit from the Programme which includes major refurbishment of stations/facilities including facilities for meeting victims of crime; essential remedial works to existing stations; development of large scale property and exhibit management stores and the upgrade of cells and provision of improved custody management facilities. The Programme will be delivered by the Garda Authorities in cooperation with the OPW which has responsibility for capital expenditure in this area.

In this context, the Building and Refurbishment Programme includes the provision of a Property Exhibit Management Store at the Santry Garda Station complex.