asked the Minister for Justice the present position regarding Garda manpower in rural areas in the west of Ireland; if the closing of any Garda stations in Sligo and Leitrim is contemplated; and, if so, which stations.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - West of Ireland Garda Manpower.
27.
I am having an examination in depth made in relation to the distribution of the force throughout the country. It has become apparent that the present distribution is uneven, having regard to population, incidence of crime and traffic problems.
I want to see the police distributed properly in relation to their primary duty of preventing and detecting crime.
It is inevitable that in any redistribution of manpower some rural stations will be closed or reduced. I cannot say at this stage what stations, if any, in particular counties will be closed or reduced.
In addressing his mind to that question, will the Minister, with the experience of rural life he has, bear closely in mind that the primary duty of the Garda Síochána is the prevention of crime and that their presence in a peaceful area has often been the reason for the protracted peaceful atmosphere there obtaining, and will he resolve, further, that he will not be induced to close Garda stations simply because the area has acquired the reputation of being a peaceful area when, in fact, those of us with local knowledge know that that reputation arose very largely from the fact that there has always been a Garda station, however small, in the area?
I must confess that I largely share the Deputy's view on this issue. Since I came into this Department, the couple of cases that came before me were cases of the survival of barracks from the horse and buggy days, for which there was obviously no reason. I am conscious of the usefulness in the prevention of crime of having a Garda barracks in a rural area.