Seán Fleming
Question:
250. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the arrangements in place in which Garda stations are not open and a person makes a phone call to that local Garda station; if these calls will be automatically transferred to a further Garda station in the region that is opened on a 24-hour basis and can answer the phone calls; if they are not directed to another Garda station that is also closed, the arrangements in place to ensure this happens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9307/19]
View answer
As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is primarily responsible for the effective and efficient use of the resources available to An Garda Síochána, in accordance with operational need and policing priorities. This includes responsibility for the formulation of proposals in relation to the opening and closing of Garda stations, their opening hours and related matters. As Minister, I have no direct role in that matter.
I have asked the Commissioner for the specific information requested and I will write directly to the Deputy when I receive it.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A
I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 250 for answer on 26 February 2019 in which you requested the arrangements in place for telephone callers to a Garda station which is not open on a 24 hour basis.
The Deputy will recall that the information could not be obtained in the time available and I undertook to consult with An Garda Síochána and contact you again when the information was available.
The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for a Partnership Government recognises that Gardaí must have the modern technology and resources necessary to detect and investigate crimes, and to prevent loss and harm to citizens and their property on a 24/7 basis.
Further, A Policing Service for the Future, the high level plan for implementation of the Commission on the Future of Policing’s recommendations, prioritises the development of a digital strategy and the roll-out of ICT projects with the aim of fully embedding technology initiatives to improve the services delivered to communities by An Garda Síochána.
Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Commissioner is the Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote and holds responsibility for the management and control of the administration and business of An Garda Síochána and he is responsible for the effective and efficient use of the resources at his disposal, including responsibility for the formulation of proposals in relation to the opening and closing of Garda stations, their opening hours and related matters. I, as Minister, have no direct role in that matter.
The Garda authorities inform that before vacating a non-24 hour station, the Garda member manually diverts the station telephone line to a 24 hour Garda station within the Division. In the case of any Garda Division within the DMR which is not a 24 hour station, calls are diverted to a 24 hour station within the District.
