Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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251. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to outline when the merger of the Ashbourne Garda Síochána district and the east Meath Garda Síochána district of the Meath division will be reversed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4993/16]

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 organisation's resource base would best meet public demand.

This was reflected in An Garda Síochána’s Policing Plans 2012 and 2013 which set out the details of the closure of 39 Garda stations in 2012 and 100 Garda stations in 2013.

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 understand from discussions with the Garda Commissioner that the current consolidation process is largely completed.