Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

211. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the location of all non-operational Garda stations in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42642/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of Garda resources in the State and, as Minister, I have no role in relation to these matters.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Síochána District and Station Rationalisation Programme gave rise to the closure of some 139 Garda stations in 2012 and 2013, including Garda stations in Tipperary, following the completion by An Garda Síochána of a comprehensive review of its district and station network.

I understand that 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.

I am informed that the following stations in the Tipperary Division were closed under the Programme.

While seven Garda stations were closed, there are currently 29 Garda stations in the Tipperary Division including a major divisional headquarters in Thurles. There are currently 373 Gardaí assigned to Co. Tipperary and Garda recruitment is continuing apace. I have been advised by the Garda authorities that the closures have allowed front line Gardaí to be managed and deployed with greater mobility, greater flexibility and in a more focused fashion, particularly with regard to targeted police operations.

The Programme for Government commits to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and to deter crime. A cornerstone of this commitment is the Government plan to achieve an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Reserve members and 4,000 civilians.

In addition, the Government's Capital Plan 2016 – 2021 provides for an unprecedented level of investment in An Garda Síochána over the lifetime of the Plan, including:

- €46 million for investment in the Garda Fleet to ensure that An Garda Síochána has a modern, effective and fit for purpose fleet. This is in addition to the investment of almost €30 million in the period 2013 to 2015;

- Some €330 million, including €205 million under the Capital Plan, for investment in Garda ICT infrastructure over the period 2016 to 2021. This major investment will allow An Garda Síochána to deploy the latest cutting edge technologies in the fight against crime and will facilitate progress on important reforms arising from the Garda Inspectorate's report on Crime Investigation;

- The Garda Station Building and Refurbishment Programme 2016-2021, which is an ambitious 5 year Programme that will benefit over thirty locations around the country and provides for over €60million of Exchequer funding as part of Government’s Capital Plan 2016 – 2021 as well as a major Public Private Partnership project which will include the construction of a new Garda station in Clonmel. This is in addition to over €100 million being invested in 3 major Garda Headquarters in Dublin, Galway and Wexford.