Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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217. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when the review of the 139 closed Garda stations will be completed; the reason for the delay in bringing this matter to a conclusion; his plans to use closed stations and their sites for social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11406/18]

Charles 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, including responsibility for the formulation of proposals in relation to the opening and closing of Garda stations. As Minister, I have no direct role in the matter.

The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Station Rationalisation Programme of 2012 and 2013 resulted in the closure of some 139 Garda stations, which has allowed front line Gardaí to be managed and deployed with greater mobility, greater flexibility and in a more focused fashion, particularly with regard to various targeted police operations.

Upon closure, almost all of these stations were returned to the Office of Public Works (OPW). It is understood that the OPW sold a number of properties, assigned a number of properties to community groups and retained a number of properties for State use. The future use of such properties is a matter for the OPW as owner.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for a Partnership Government commits to 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.

The Garda Commissioner's final report, which was noted by Government on 19 December 2017, is available on my Department's website at www.justice.ie. It recommends that the following six stations be included in the pilot: Ballinspittle, Co. Cork, Bawnboy, Co. Cavan, Leighlinbridge, Co. Carlow, Donard, Co. Wicklow, and Rush and Stepaside, Co. Dublin.

I understand that the Commissioner has written to the OPW with regard to the pilot and that arrangements are being made for technical inspections and other necessary steps to progress the matter. As the Deputy will appreciate, a procurement process will be required for any necessary works.

Finally, the Deputy may also be aware that the dispersal and use of resources available to An Garda Síochána in the delivery of policing services to local communities and the appropriate structures and management arrangements for delivery of these services is under consideration by the Garda Síochána Inspectorate and the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland respectively. Both bodies are expected to report later this year.