asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware of, and is in agreement with, the proposals to close a number of Garda stations in County Galway including those at Kilcolgan, Ardrahan, Oranmore and Kinvara; and if he will have such proposals withdrawn immediately.
Written Answers. - County Galway Garda Stations.
354.
Limerick East): There is no official proposal to close any Garda station in County Galway or anywhere else in the State.
I have become aware that various rumours are going around about the proposed closure of stations in different places and I am glad of this opportunity to stress that there is no basis for those rumours. I think that what may have given rise to some of this speculation is the discussion that is going on within the Gard Síochána about the feasibility of further extending the system of rural policing which has been tried out successfully for some time in two rural Garda districts.
As I have explained before, the main feature of the new system is that the Garda personnel allocated to a group of small rural stations combine as a team to provide patrolling and other services for the whole area covered by these stations. It is intended that each such area will be provided with a Garda car. Each small station in an area will have a garda permanently assigned to it and it will be served as well by other gardaí assigned to the area who will attend as required — for example, to open the station on days when the local garda has time-off, etc.
The service to the public will be further improved by the provision of new communications facilities. A radio-phone at every small station will enable the public to contact gardaí at times when the station is closed and as all gardaí on patrol will be in radio contact there should be a much more effective response to calls requesting Garda attention or assistance.
The Garda authorities are satisfied that the scheme represents a real improvement over the present system of rural policing and it is intended to extend the new scheme into further areas in the near future.