McDowell to sell old garda stations

OUTDATED garda stations will be closed and sold to pay for the cost of building new stations, Justice Minister Michael McDowell said yesterday.

Stations close to each other like Dublin's Mountjoy, Fitzgibbon Street and Store Street may be amalgamated while new stations will be built in areas with growing populations.

Mr McDowell said there was a consensus that a 21st century police force could not be run on the basis of 19th century organisation.

"I want to see stations which are up to date located where the demand for their services is greatest," he said.

It is likely the eventual number of stations will fall below the current 700.

The money from the closures will be reinvested in the building of new stations. This system is already being used to replace eight stations in Limerick and Tipperary.

However, the decisions on which stations will be closed or amalgamated will be made on a case-by-case basis by Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy.

Mr McDowell also restated the Government's commitment to provide 2,000 extra gardaí by the end of its term in 2007. This would bring the number of gardaí to more than 14,000.

The forthcoming Garda Síochána Bill will establish a Garda Ombudsman, who will have extensive powers to investigate complaints against the force.

"I am very pleased at the level of support there is for it. There is general acceptance that the balance between effectiveness and accountability has been correctly struck. It is a fully independent commission with powers of its own. The investigating officers will have the same powers as gardaí to arrest, to detain, to question and to investigate, there is a very comprehensive power to that station."