Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for a Partnership Government recognises that community policing is the embodiment of An Garda Síochána, providing a means of recognising that every community, both urban and rural, has its own concerns and expectations. It commits the Government to ensuring visible, effective and responsive policing in every community, including the most minimal response times possible.

Under the Programme, the Government is committed to asking the Policing Authority to oversee a review of, amongst other things, both the boundaries of Garda districts and the dispersement of Garda stations in rural areas. In addition, the Government is committed to launching a pilot scheme to reopen 6 Garda stations, both urban and rural, to determine possible positive impacts that such openings will have on criminal activity, with special emphasis on burglaries, theft and public order and I have asked the Authority to initiate the proposed review.

In relation to the proposed pilot scheme, I have requested the Garda Commissioner, while fully cognisant of her statutory functions in relation to the distribution of Garda resources in the State, to identify for reopening 6 stations that were closed under the Garda Síochána District and Station Rationalisation Programme.

As with other stations that were closed under the Rationalisation Programme, the former Garda Station at Rush was returned to the control of the Office of Public Works and I understand that the premises has been assigned for use by the local community.

As the Deputy will also be aware, the Garda Commissioner has responsibility for decisions in relation to Garda station opening hours, and I, as Minister, have no direct role in these matters. However, I have requested the Commissioner to provide the information being sought by the Deputy in relation to opening hours and will revert to him as soon as I have this to hand.