Noel Ahern
Question:74 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Justice whether any rural Garda stations will be closed arising out of a recent internal Garda report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2129/97]
Written Answers. - Garda Stations.
Charles Flanagan
Question:222 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice the proposed changes, if any, to policing matters in County Offaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1974/97]
Charles Flanagan
Question:223 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to any proposals to close the Garda station at Clara, County Offaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1976/97]
Charles Flanagan
Question:224 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to any proposals to close the Garda station at Daingean, County Offaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1977/97]
Charles Flanagan
Question:225 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to any proposals to close the Garda station at Rhode, County Offaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1978/97]
Charles Flanagan
Question:226 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to any proposals to close the Garda station at Clonbullogue, County Offaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1979/97]
Seamus Kirk
Question:243 Mr. Kirk asked the Minister for Justice the future status of the Garda station in Ardee, County Louth, in view of the rumours circulating regarding Garda stations generally in rural areas. [2097/97]
Charles Flanagan
Question:246 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice the status of the reviews of rural policing in the State; and the plans, if any, she has to extend the scheme to new areas. [2126/97]
Brendan Smith
Question:261 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the widespread concern in rural Ireland in relation to proposals to reduce the number of hours of opening of some Garda stations; the proposals, if any, she has to reverse this policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2397/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 74, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 243, 246 and 261 together.
The extension of the rural community policing scheme to provide a better service to the community would involve a variation in the hours of opening at stations. I should emphasise that no decisions have been made as to the areas in which the scheme may be extended.
The rural community policing scheme has been operating in 14 Garda districts throughout the country since 1991. It was intended that the schemes, once operational for a reasonable period, would be extended to other districts. The Garda authorities are currently evaluating experience of the existing rural community policing scheme and reviewing their 1994 proposals for its extension. This involves a consultative process taking in consultations with local Garda management, the Garda representative associations and, most importantly, local community interests.
This process, by its nature, will take some time to complete. However, I am particularly anxious to ensure that there will be sufficient consultations with local interest groups before any decision is made to extend the scheme. It is only after the detailed consultative process has been completed that the Garda Commissioner will be in a position to submit to me proposals as to whether rural policing should be extended or not, or modified as the case may be.
There has been some misunderstanding over the years in the media and by members of the public about this scheme. It was never designed to close rural Garda stations. It is actually aimed at allowing the Garda spend more time on active operational duties in their districts including in particular, visits to the elderly, while at the same time providing for station opening hours which actually suit local community needs. It is precisely these objectives which are being examined to see how well they have been met in the existing rural policing areas.