Shatter: Station closures won’t hit policing

The closure of almost 100 Garda stations has gone ahead as an unrepentant Alan Shatter insisted policing would not be damaged by the move.

But the justice minister admitted that falling Garda numbers was an issue and said he would draw up proposals soon for the first recruitment campaign since 2009.

Mr Shatter faced heavy criticism inside and outside the Dáil as doors shut for the last time yesterday on 95 mainly rural stations. Five will close shortly, bringing to 134 the number shut in the past 10 months. He refused to rule out more closures, with at least 100 others possibly under threat.