Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

88. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to reopen any of the Garda stations closed within the Donegal division due to cutbacks since 2010; the need to do so in order to strengthen community policing and combat rural crime; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28906/16]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

89. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to re-establish the former Glenties district headquarters following its amalgamation by the previous Government with two other districts within the Donegal division; the need to do so in order to strengthen the policing of west and south west Donegal; if she will provide a stronger rural-based policing service to the persons and rural communities of west Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28907/16]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

93. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to provide a new Garda station for Donegal town, as the present station is in need of replacement and plans for a new station have been long promised; if a site has been identified; if plans have been agreed and drawn up regarding this new facility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28911/16]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

94. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans for Dunkineely Garda station in the Donegal division and her plans for policing in the Dunkineely Garda station area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28912/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 88, 89, 93 and 94 together.

The Deputy will appreciate that the Office of Public Works has primary responsibility for the provision and refurbishment of Garda accommodation and I, as Minister, have no direct role in these matters.

As the Deputy will be aware, a major refurbishment of Donegal Town Garda station is envisaged under the Garda Building and Refurbishment Programme 2016 – 2021. In this context, I am advised by the Garda authorities that the Office of Public Works has developed proposals to extend and refurbish Donegal Town Station and these proposals are currently being considered by local Garda management.

The Deputy will also be aware that some 139 Garda stations, including Dunkineely, were closed on foot of the Garda District and Station Rationalisation Programme, which was implemented in 2012 and 2013, following the completion by An Garda Síochána of a comprehensive review of its district and station network. As the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the effective and efficient use of the resources at her disposal, the review was undertaken with the objective of identifying opportunities to introduce strategic reforms to enhance service delivery, increase efficiency and streamline practices within the organisation. It concluded that a revised district and station network commensurate with the organisation’s resource base would best meet public demand. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the closures have allowed front line Garda to be managed and deployed with greater mobility, greater flexibility and in a more focused fashion particularly with regard to various targeted police operations.

With respect to the reopening of stations, 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 and I have asked the Authority to initiate the proposed review. I have previously informed the House that I intend to put the outcome of the review before the House.

The Programme also commits the Government 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. 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.