I propose to take Questions Nos. 344 and 345 together.
The Commissioner's Policing Plan for 2013, which I laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas on 5th December 2012, sets out details of the closure of 100 Garda stations throughout the country, the future opening hours of other stations in Cork and Dublin and a number of District amalgamations. It is important to remember that while some Garda stations are listed for revised opening hours from 24 hour stations, they will remain as functioning Garda stations on a 24 hour basis. The full list of these details is available in the Policing Plan which is available in the Oireachtas Library.
These changes to the delivery of policing services provide for effectiveness and efficiencies through a programme of restructuring and reconfiguration of service delivery methods. They are supported by changes to work practices within the new rostering arrangements which were introduced on a pilot basis last April.
The new Garda roster is designed to better match the availability of Gardaí with policing demands at national and local level, while also safeguarding the welfare of members. This and other reforming measures seek to maximise the efficiency of the Garda Síochána so that, even with reduced strength, an effective community-led, high-visibility policing service will continue to be delivered across the country. The new roster system has already increased Garda visibility in communities.
