Mobile Garda office plans dropped

Justice Minister Alan Shatter has confirmed that plans to replace the closure of rural Garda stations with “mobile police offices” have been dropped.

Last February, when 95 rural stations were being shut, the minister told the Dáil there were plans to acquire five mobile offices, kitted out with a public area, counter and office facilities.

This announcement was made to reassure rural communities that policing levels would continue in their areas after the stations closed.

In a reply to a question from Independent Kerry South TD Michael Healy-Rae, Mr Shatter said the decision on such matters was an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner.

“As the deputy will be aware, earlier this year the Garda authorities indicated that they proposed to provide a number of mobile Garda offices,” said the minister.

“At this stage, however, I understand from the Garda authorities that they have decided not to proceed with the proposal, at least for the present.”

He said Garda bosses had told him that current community needs were being met by the Garda Community Engagement Programme.

“They have concluded that the introduction of mobile offices would provide limited identifiable benefits for the public or the Force. Accordingly, the vehicles purchased for use as mobile offices are being re-deployed for other Garda purposes.”

He added: “Overall, the Garda authorities have indicated that the Garda operational arrangements in place throughout the country are sufficient to ensure the continued delivery of a comprehensive policing service to all communities.”

Responding, Mr Healy-Rae said: “Alan Shatter misled the Dáil about closing rural Garda stations: the reason being that there was going to be better policing. That’s not true.

“Then he claimed it was going to save money. I showed that wasn’t the case. Then on record in the Dáil he said he was going to put in mobile police units.”

He said he “ridiculed” the minister in the Dáil about this plan: “It was insanity to think that people were going to go to mobile offices. That was not going to happen.”

He said this was another “nail in the coffin” for the minister: “He hasn’t lost touch with the people of rural Ireland. He never had it. He’s good on judicial matters. That’s it.”

Mr Healy-Rae said that it was also “a blow” for rural Ireland.

A Garda source said that when senior management looked at the cost of buying and fitting out five such vehicles, they realised they could buy 10 garda patrol cars for the same money.

“They proved very expensive and a strategic decision was made by management,” the source said.