31 garda stations to close

Thirty-one Garda stations are to close, while a further 10 will operate on reduced opening hours, under cost-saving plans announced by Justice Minister Alan Shatter.

The minister said his department had to contribute to the overall reduction in public expenditure.

He said the closures came as part of a wider review of the justice sector and argued that modern policing did not require “a bricks and mortar presence in every locality”.

The minister confirmed areas across the country would be affected, but he said communities worried about the cuts would continue to receive a professional policing service.

Mr Shatter said: “It is my priority to see that frontline policing services are maintained as far as possible, even at a time of reduced resources.

“The number of closures being announced today is very small compared to the 703 Garda stations listed throughout the country which include 47 stations in Dublin.

“These are very high figures by international standards, and they have hardly changed since the foundation of the state, despite the huge advances in transport, communications and technology in recent years.

“I expect that there will be further rationalisation of Garda services in the years ahead.

“Modern policing is not simply about a bricks and mortar presence in every locality, but the delivery of a professional service to every community using all the modern capacities of An Garda Síochána.”

Mr Shatter said he welcomed the budget allocation of €2.261bn he had received, but he noted that it represented a reduction of slightly over €100m on last year.

The minister added: “The dreadful financial legacy inherited from the previous government requires all of us to make difficult decisions and, like all other areas of public expenditure, there is no magic formula for generating money for the justice area.”

Mr Shatter said: “An Garda Síochána, like all public service agencies, must introduce new efficiencies so as to make the best possible use of available resources.

“This will mean focusing resources on frontline operational services. In some cases it will mean using a different model for delivering a policing service to a local community, through a rationalisation of Garda stations and revised patterns of patrols.

“Similar rationalisation of police stations commenced some years ago in Northern Ireland and last week it was reported that the Policing Board were considering proposals to close 34 out of 83 stations as part of a cost-cutting plan by the PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland).”

He said of the closures: “I want to assure people living in the areas close to and served by those stations that the Garda Síochána is committed to continuing to provide the most professional and effective policing service possible to them.”

Mr Shatter said the Criminal Assets Bureau and the Forensic Science Laboratory will see funding maintained at 2011 levels.

He said that despite the reduction in the capital budget for the Prison Service, he was satisfied that the funding provided will allow for the completion of building works in the Midlands Prison and the Dóchas Centre in Dublin to provide more than 370 additional prison spaces in 2012.

Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan reiterated the commitment of An Garda Síochána to "providing a professional and effective service to the community" despite the closures.

"Like every other part of the public service, An Garda Síochána has had to take a detailed look at how we do our business in order to find savings within a reduced budget and in order to provide a policing service with greater efficiency," Commissioner Callinan said.

"We have decided that resources could be better deployed and more effectively used on the frontline if those particular stations no longer had to be staffed and maintained.

"In the coming months local garda management in places where a station will close will consult with local communities to determine how best to continue to deliver a policing service in their area.”

The stations to shut their doors are:

Dublin Metropolitan Region

Rush, Whitehall, Dalkey and Harcourt Terrace

Western Region

Corrandulla (Galway)

Glenisland, Tourmakeady, Mulranny and Bellacorrik (Mayo)

Loughglynn and Cootehall (Roscommon/Longford )

Carrigaholt (Clare)

Southern Region

Shanagolden and Doon (Limerick)

Glenville (north Cork)

Knocknagree, Ballyfeard, Goleen and Inchigeela (west Cork)

Ballylongford, Moyvane and An Clochán (Kerry)

Northern Region

Clontibret and Smithborough (Monaghan)

Tullyvin (Cavan)

Culdaff and Dunkineely (Donegal)

Kiltyclogher, Bunnanadden and Drumkeeran (Sligo/Leitrim)

South Eastern Region

Baldwinstown (Wexford)

Following stations already closed and will not re-open:

Castletownsend and Ballygurteen (west Cork); Ballinure and Ballinderry (Tipperary); Ballywilliam (Wexford); Doochary (Donegal); Geashill (Laois/Offaly) and Tarmonbarry (Roscommon/Longford).

Following stations to have reduced hours of opening:

Cabinteely, Stepaside, Kill O’ the Grange, Sundrive, Terenure, Cabra, Malahide, Santry, Howth, and Donnybrook (Dublin Metropolitan Region). These stations are currently open to the public on a 24-hour basis and will, in future, be closed to the public between 10.00pm and 8.00am.