Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 28 Apr 1970

Vol. 246 No. 1

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Closing of Rural Garda Stations.

33.

Mr. Bruton

asked the Minister for Justice the criteria used in deciding to close a rural Garda station.

34.

Mr. Bruton

asked the Minister for Justice the methods used in consulting local people prior to the closure of a rural Garda station.

36.

Mr. Bruton

asked the Minister for Justice if he has plans to close any further rural Garda stations in the next two years; and, if so, which stations.

37.

Mrs. Burke

asked the Minister for Justice if he will consider the desirability of reversing the policy of closing Garda stations in rural areas in view of the increase in lawlessness in the State.

41.

Mr. Bruton

asked the Minister for Justice the criteria used in deciding the optimum strength of the Garda Síochána.

Mr. B. Lenihan

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 33, 34, 36, 37 and 41 together.

Over the past twelve months and more I have, in statements here and in replies to parliamentary questions, dealt at length with the strength and deployment of the Garda Síochána; and I do not think that I should have to go over that ground again at any length.

As regards criteria, there will, I think, be general acceptance that the optimum strength of the Garda Síochána is the minimum strength which, when deployed in the most effective way by reference to current requirements, and when equipped with adequate transport and other facilities such as radio, will provide an efficient service to deal with the basic responsibilities of the Garda Síochána. These responsibilities are the prevention and detection of crime, the control of traffic, and the maintenance of law and order. In recommending the closing of a particular station, the commissioner applies similar criteria—he has regard to the level of crime and of traffic, to the population and acreage involved and to all local circumstances. No station is closed without a certificate by the commissioner that he is satisfied that the station can be closed without detriment to the efficient policing of the area.

The review of the deployment of the force, which has been engaging my attention for some time, has now been expanded by the setting up within the Garda Síochána, as recommended by the Conroy Commission, of a research and planning unit, which is actively engaged in examining how the existing strength can be located and used to the best advantage in present conditions and in those likely to obtain in the future. I cannot at this stage give particulars of stations which may be closed in the next two years; this will have to await recommendations which the commissioner will make as a result of the work of the research and planning unit.

The assessment of police requirements in any area is a matter primarily for determination by professional policemen who are the best judges of methods of prevention and detection of crime and of police needs in the locality. This is not a matter that could be solved in open consultation with local residents, but the Garda authorities always take into account local reports as to the views of responsible citizens.

Mr. Bruton

Would the Minister not agree that some form of consultation should be institutionally provided? Would he not agree that the information requested in Question No. 35 should be made available so that people can see that they are not losing anything, if that is the position, as a result of stations being closed? Would the Minister not agree that there has been concern in many areas that the closing of a station has led to a great increase in crime in those areas and that figures should be available in this regard so that people would be clear as to what is happening?

Mr. B. Lenihan

In regard to the last point made by the Deputy, that is not the case. In fact, increased mobility, radio equipment and so on have enabled smaller stations to be closed without any increase in the crime rate. The important aspect of this matter is to deal with crime: that is what a police force is for. The facts are that you have at the moment deployment of the force in many areas where crime is practically non-existent and you have the force under strength in areas where crime is rampant. The whole purpose of the proposed redeployment is to ensure that the resources available are deployed where crime is most evident. It is as simple and as logical as that.

35.

Mr. Bruton

asked the Minister for Justice if he will give (1) a list of the rural Garda stations closed in the past ten years, (2) comparative figures for the crime rate in the areas covered by these stations in (a) the two years prior to the closure and (b) the two years subsequent to the closure and (3) the method by which these figures are worked out, and any estimated saving to the Exchequer resulting from the closure of each of the stations.

Mr. B. Lenihan

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to have circulated with the Official Report a list of the rural Garda stations and sub-stations closed in the ten-year period ended 24th April, 1970. Thirtynine stations and 19 sub-stations were closed in that period.

The particulars sought by the Deputy of crime at local station level are not available and could at this stage be compiled, if at all, only by the spending by members of the force of a great deal of time which could not be justified.

As regards the final portion of the question, I should emphasise that the most efficient use of manpower is the primary objective of the policy of redeployment. However, the total number of members attached to the stations and sub-stations which were closed was about 90. The closings made possible transfers to other centres where extra strength was urgently required and where otherwise extra recruitment would have been unavoidable. At current cost levels, the annual cost of 90 members, say, 20 sergeants and 70 gardaí, is not less than £150,000 so that maintenance of the existing stations and strengths would have cost £150,000 more than the Garda authorities thought necessary for adequate policing of the districts.

Following is the list referred to:

(A) List of Stations closed in the ten-year period ended 24th April, 1970.

Number	Station	Division
1.	Kilcrohan	Cork W.R.
2.	Quilty	Clare
3.	Knock	Do.
4.	Ballyheane	Mayo
5.	Fanore	Clare
6.	Blackrock	Cork E.R.
7.	Ballyhaise	Cavan/Monaghan
8.	Ballinderry	Roscommon/Galway E.
9.	Hollyfort	Wexford
10.	Birdhill	Clare
11.	Glangevlin	Cavan/Monaghan
12.	Rylane	Cork W.R.
13.	Donoghmore	Cork W.R.
14.	Kilmore	Sligo/Leitrim
15.	Murrisk	Mayo
16.	Connolly	Clare
17.	Morris Mills	Do.
18.	Inniskeen	Cavan/Monaghan
19.	Glasslough	Do.
20.	Puckaun	Tipperary
21.	Newtownforbes	Longford/Westmeath
22.	Donadea	Carlow/Kildare
23.	Cappagh	Waterford/Kilkenny
24.	Ballincurrig	Cork E.R.
25.	Croghan	Roscommon/Galway E.
26.	O'Briens Bridge	Clare
27.	Abbeyshrule	Longford/Westmeath
28.	Railyard	Waterford/Kilkenny
29.	George's Cross	Louth/Meath
30.	Camolin	Wexford
31.	Wolfhill	Leix/Offaly
32.	Grousehall	Cavan/Monaghan
33.	Eyeries	Cork E.R.
34.	Carrow-kennedy	Mayo
35.	Mountbolus	Leix/Offaly
36.	Ballybrittas	Leix/Offaly
37.	Dromore-West	Mayo
38.	Ballintogher	Sligo/Leitrim
39.	Curry	Do.

(B) List of Sub-Stations closed in the ten year period ended 24th April, 1970.

Number	Sub-station	Division
1.	Rockchapel	Cork W.R.
2.	Kilfenora	Clare
3.	Cloonfad	Roscommon/Galway E.
4.	Killavullen	Cork E.R.
5.	Paulstown	Waterford/Kilkenny
6.	Gortnahoe	Do. Do.
7.	Dungourney	Cork E.R.
8.	Ballylooby	Tipperary
9.	Clerihan	Do.
10.	Hollyford	Do.
11.	Allihies	Cork W.R.
12.	Ballyclough	Cork E.R.
13.	Banteer	Cork W.R.
14.	Rahan	Leix/Offaly
15.	Barndarrig	Wexford
16.	Cloonacool	Sligo/Leitrim
17.	Knocklong	Limerick
18.	Tullogher	Wexford
19.	Caherdaniel	Kerry