I am informed by the Garda authorities that the personnel strength of the Dublin metropolitan region, including the area office and traffic division, as at 6 July 2004 was 3,854 — all ranks. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that at the present time there are no plans to either close Garda stations in Dublin metropolitan region or to reduce their opening hours.
The optimum use of Garda stations was considered as part of the major review of the Garda organisation structures under the strategic management initiative programme of modernisation which looked in detail at a range of areas within the organisation. The Garda SMI implementation steering group's final report, which is available on my Department's website, does not refer to the closure of any specific Garda station, but rather makes recommendations to assist policy making in relation to the management and use of all available resources, including Garda stations.
This report is currently under examination within my Department and I will give careful consideration to all of the steering group's recommendations, including any implications they may have for the opening hours of Garda stations.
