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Garda Stations

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 June 2017

Tuesday, 20 June 2017

Ceisteanna (734, 898, 909)

Catherine Martin

Ceist:

734. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 80 of 22 February 2017, if he has received the report on Garda stations; if so, his plans to identify the six Garda stations committed for reopening in the programme for partnership Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27036/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Jim O'Callaghan

Ceist:

898. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to the announcement of the reopening of Stepaside Garda station, the way this station was selected before the full interim report was published; if the Garda Commissioner was requested or contacted to allow this particular Garda station to be announced on 13 June 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29009/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Josepha Madigan

Ceist:

909. Deputy Josepha Madigan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to the announcement that Stepaside Garda station will be reopened on a trial basis, the date on which it is expected to be operational. [28915/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 734, 898 and 909 together.

The Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is primarily responsible for the effective and efficient use of the resources available to An Garda Síochána, and I as Minister have no role in the matter.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Síochána District and Station Rationalisation Programme gave rise to the closure of some 139 Garda stations, including Stepaside Garda station, in 2012 and 2013, following the completion by An Garda Síochána of a comprehensive review of its district and station network. That review was undertaken with the objective of identifying opportunities to introduce strategic reforms to enhance service delivery, increase efficiency and streamline practices within the organisation. I have been advised by the Garda authorities that the closures have allowed front line Garda to be managed and deployed with greater mobility, greater flexibility and in a more focused fashion, particularly with regard to targeted police operations.

The Programme for Government commits the Government to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and to deter crime. A cornerstone of this commitment is the Government plan to achieve an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Reserve members and 4,000 civilians. Revisiting the decisions made to close Garda stations is also part of that commitment.

In this context, the Government on 24 June 2016 authorised the then Minister to request the Garda Commissioner, while fully cognisant of her statutory functions, to identify 6 stations for reopening on a pilot basis to determine possible positive impacts that such openings will have on criminal activity, with special emphasis on burglaries, theft and public order. The pilot will feed into the wider review being undertaken by the Garda Síochána Inspectorate, at the request of the Policing Authority, of the dispersal and use of resources available to An Garda Síochána in the delivery of policing services to local communities.

The Commissioner submitted a first Interim Report on 6 March 2017, which set out a timeline for completion of the exercise, including the delivery of a final report in May/June 2017. On 9 June 2017 a second Interim Report was submitted, in which the Commissioner indicated that she will be submitting her Final Report at the end of this month. In the most recent Interim Report, the Commissioner, having analysed population and crime trends, and taking account of the availability of stations for reuse, makes a number of recommendations including that Stepaside Station in Co. Dublin be reopened on a pilot basis. subject to the necessary consultation with the Office of Public Works. In the latest report, the Commissioner, having analysed population and crime trends, and taking account of the availability of Stations for reuse, makes a number of other recommendations including that if the Government decides to reopen two Stations in Dublin, that Rush Station in north Co. Dublin be reopened. However the Commissioner requests that a decision on Rush be deferred until her final report is received to allow time for further analysis to be carried out. The Commissioner has also indicated that she is likely, subject to further analysis, to recommend the reopening of Leighlinbridge Station in Co. Carlow and Donard Station in Co. Wicklow, in her final report. The Commissioner has also highlighted the need to develop new stations to meet identified policing requirements at Dublin Airport and at Dublin Port. At its meeting on 13 June the Government agreed to note the key recommendations in the Commissioner’s report and to agree, in principle, to the reopening of Stepaside Garda Station on a pilot basis as soon as any necessary preparatory works have been completed and that the decision to reopen Rush, Leighlinbridge and Donard Stations will be taken when the final report is received from the Commissioner at the end of June.

The Policing Authority has commissioned the Garda Síochána Inspectorate, on foot of a request from the former Minister, to review the dispersement of Garda Stations in the State and the boundaries of Garda Districts. This review is on-going and a report is expected later this year.

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