Written answers

Wednesday, 12 July 2017

Department of Justice and Equality

Garda Stations

Photo of Robert TroyRobert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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210. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if Garda stations in counties Longford and Westmeath which were closed or downgraded in recent years will be reopened or reviewed. [33017/17]

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is primarily responsible for the effective and efficient use of the resources available to An Garda Síochána and I, as Minister, have no role in the matter. 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.

Indeed, this was the basis on which the Garda District and Station Rationalisation Programme was developed and implemented, resulting in the closure of some 139 Garda stations. I am 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.

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. At its meeting on 13 June 2017, the Government noted the Garda Commissioner’s interim Report which analysed population and crime trends and, taking account of the availability of stations for reuse, makes a number of recommendations including that Stepaside Station in Co. Dublin be reopened on a pilot basis. The Report also indicates that the Commissioner is likely, subject to further analysis, to recommend the reopening of Loughlinbridge, Co. Carlow and Donard, Co. Wicklow in her final report. If a second station is to be reopened in Dublin, the Commissioner has indicated that, subject to further analysis, the former station at Rush, Co. Dublin will be recommended for reopening.

The Government has, accordingly, agreed in in principle to the reopening of Stepaside Garda Station on a pilot basis as soon as any necessary preparatory works have been completed and the Commissioner’s final recommendation in relation to Rush, Leighlinbridge and Donard Stations is expected to be received shortly.

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

The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Síochána Inspectorate is, at the request of the Policing Authority, examining the dispersal and use of resources available to An Garda Síochána in the delivery of policing services to local communities with a view to making recommendations to provide a more effective, visible and responsive policing service. The Authority has informed the Inspectorate that the review should take account of:

- the changing environments in rural, developing urban and suburban areas;

- the views of local communities;

- the allocation to and deployment of Garda resources at the local policing level, including the use of the Garda Reserve, Garda facilities and Garda equipment; and

- relevant recommendations made in previous Inspectorate reports.

It is expected that the Inspectorate will have completed the review by mid-2018.

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