asked the Minister for Justice if it is proposed that Cashel Garda Station, County Tipperary, will be reopened until 12 p.m. each night.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cashel Garda Station.
16.
(Cavan): I would refer the Deputy to the reply I gave on 15th November, 1974, to a similar question put down by him. The position continues to be as explained in that reply.
Now that this is a radio base and that it is the only town in South Tipperary that does not have a Garda station operating through the night, does the Minister not consider that the least that should be done is to open it until midnight? This is the only town between Abbeyleix and Cahir, 40 miles of the main Dublin-Cork road, with no Garda station.
(Cavan): I understand that when the station is closed people in need of gardaí can telephone Cahir, which is ten miles away, and that there is a telephone kiosk outside. I understand also that the town is patrolled between 9 p.m. and 12 midnight and frequently between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m., that the patrols call at Cashel Barracks and telephone Cahir to ascertain whether or not they have received any request for assistance or police help. I am informed also that there is a patrol car attached to Cashel station which performs patrols until 4 a.m. each morning.
Is the Minister aware that, in certain circumstances locally, people may want to speak to a local garda whom they know, in the event of any trouble, rather than to a stranger ten or 15 miles away, a garda whom they do not know, when a local garda might be able to handle the local problem without any action being taken legally.
(Cavan): I do not want to become argumentative with the Deputy, but I think if anybody wants a garda during the hours when the stations are closed it would probably be an emergency matter and that any garda would be welcomed.
Further arising——
We must get on to other Questions.
In the event of, say, a wife being beaten—I know of such a case recently—she would not go to a Garda station outside the area but she would consult one of the local gardaí if they were readily available to her.
(Cavan): I do not think the Deputy is being realistic because, if the Garda station was open, the unfortunate woman would have no assurance that a garda whom she knew would be on duty.
But at least she could talk to him.