I propose to take Questions Nos. 471 and 472 together.
As the Deputy is aware, the Commissioner's Policing Plan for 2012, which I laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas on 5 December 2011, sets out the future opening hours of 10 Garda Stations in the Dublin Metropolitan Region and the closure of 39 Garda Stations throughout the country. The only stations in the Donegal Garda Division which are due to close are Culdaff and Dunkineely Garda Stations.
In preparing the Policing Plan, the Garda Commissioner reviewed all aspects of the Garda Síochána's policing model, including the deployment of personnel, the utilisation of modern technologies and the operation of Garda stations, both in terms of opening hours and possible closures. In addition, all Divisional Officers were asked to assess the level of activity in each Garda Station in their area. It must be stressed that the key objective of the station closures is to promote the more efficient and effective deployment of resources rather than secure modest cash savings. In this context the Commissioner has concluded that Garda resources could be better deployed and more effectively used on the frontline if a particular station no longer had to be staffed and maintained. The allocation of resources including personnel and the day to day operations of the force, including opening hours of Garda stations are a matter for the Commissioner.
The Policing Plan for 2013 has not yet been prepared and therefore it is not possible to say at this stage what it may contain. Specifically in relation to the Donegal Garda Division, on 29 February 2012, the latest date for which figures are readily available, there were 436 Gardaí assigned to the Division of which 75 were assigned to the Buncrana District and 165 to Letterkenny District. There were also 25 Garda Reserve members and 29 civilian staff assigned to different stations across the Division. These resources are augmented, when appropriate, by Gardaí from national units such as the Garda National Drug Unit and the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation.