Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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138. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when she proposes to make an announcement on the reopening of Garda stations, including Cloughjordan Garda Station, County Tipperary. [40082/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is primarily responsible under statute for the effective and efficient use of the resources available to her. This includes responsibility for the formulation of proposals in relation to the opening and closing of Garda Stations, taking into account crime trends and policing priorities, so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources. In this context, I understand that Cloughjordan Garda station is operating with limited opening hours.

Under the Programme for a Partnership Government, 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.

I have requested the Garda Commissioner, while fully cognisant of her statutory functions, to identify for reopening 6 stations that were closed under the Garda Síochána District and Station Rationalisation Programme.

I am informed that work is ongoing in An Garda Síochána in this regard and that consultations have taken place with relevant stakeholders including, I understand, the Policing Authority.

It is intended that the results of the pilot scheme will feed into the wider review being overseen by the Authority into, amongst other things, the dispersal of Garda stations in rural areas. In this regard, I understand that the Authority has formally requested the Garda Síochána Inspectorate to examine the dispersal and use of resources available to the Garda Síochána in the delivery of policing services to local communities and to make recommendations to provide a more effective, visible and responsive policing service.