Vol. 246 No. 2
asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware that the Garda station at Skibbereen, County Cork, is closed from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m., that this position is most unsatisfactory, and if he will take immediate steps to have a garda on duty to answer any telephone calls for Garda assistance.
20.
asked the Minister for Justice whether he has received any protest over the early closing of the Skibbereen Garda station, County Cork; and whether he has any plans to extend Garda coverage for the Skibbereen area.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 20 together.
I have received representations in connection with the curtailment of opening hours at Skibbereen Garda station.
The commissioner has informed me that in consultation with the local officers he has arranged that for an experimental period of twelve months the hours during which this station is open to the public will be between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. each day. The commissioner considers that these office hours will make more men available for more important outdoor duties while still enabling an adequate office service to be provided. The new arrangements will be subject to review after a period in the light of actual experience.
Is the Minister aware that already in Skibbereen the Garda superintendent has been taken from the area? Is he aware of the importance of the Skibbereen locality and of the number of people involved? Although crime in West Cork is usually very low the number of tourists and others coming there in the summer is such as would call for Garda supervision and I would ask the Minister to retain at least the present strength of the Garda there and keep this station open.
Will the Minister not agree that for a town of the size of Skibbereen it is a big change to close the Garda station for two-thirds of the day and will he not agree that the change was made without consultations with any local interests such as the urban council? Surely he should be courteous enough to inform them. He has had requests from the local chamber of commerce and other local voluntary organisations, such as the Irish Countrywomen's Association and Muintir na Tíre, and in view of the many representations he has got from the area would he reconsider his decision? There is strong feeling in the district that there is no justification for closing the Garda station in Skibbereen for 16 of the 24 hours. Will he have a chat with the Taoiseach whom I am pleased to see in Skibbereen reasonably often?
The Deputy cannot have a debate on this matter.
Would the Minister not agree that making changes like this without consulting any local groups is a dangerous precedent? All I am asking is that the Minister should re-examine the matter.
The Deputy is making a very long speech.
Every representation will be borne in mind.
I should like to question the Minister as to the number of gardaí who have been taken from the West Cork division in the past ten years. Would he make a statement on the closing of Garda stations there?
That is not the issue relevant to the questions asked.
21.
asked the Minister for Justice what decision has been taken in regard to the closure of Knocknagree Garda station, County Cork.
22.
asked the Minister for Justice what decision has been taken in regard to the closure of Knocknagree Garda station, County Cork.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 22 together.
I have no proposal from the commissioner that Knocknagree Garda station be closed. As part of the general review which is now in progress, future police arrangements in this locality will be examined by the research and planning unit of the Garda Síochána, but at this stage I can give no indication of the outcome.
