Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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280. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if his Department or An Garda Síochána are examining a new premises in Rush, County Dublin, in order to reopen Rush Garda station in view of the fact that the old station is now being used for commercial purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29767/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will appreciate that the programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda accommodation is progressed by the Garda authorities working in close cooperation with the Office of Public Works, which has responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation, and I, as Minister, have no role in these matters.

The Deputy will be aware that, on 24 June 2016, the Government authorised the then Minister to request the Garda Commissioner, while fully cognisant of her statutory functions, to identify 6 stations for reopening on a pilot basis to determine possible positive impacts that such openings will have on criminal activity, with special emphasis on burglaries, theft and public order.

On 13 June 2017, the Government considered the second interim report of the Garda Commissioner in relation to the exercise. The Commissioner, having analysed population and crime trends and taking account of the availability of former Garda stations for reuse, makes a number of recommendations including that, if two stations in Dublin are to be reopened, the former Rush station should be reopened. However, the Commissioner requested that a decision on Rush be deferred until her final report is received to allow time for further analysis to be carried out.

Following any decision to reopen the former station, the Garda authorities will work closely with the Office of Public Works in relation to any necessary preparatory works required to progress the reopening.