Shutting the door on rural Garda stations

THE large-scale closure of small rural Garda stations is expected to be recommended in a new policing plan currently being prepared by the Garda Commissioner, Martin Callinan.

An analysis of Garda deployment in September reveals approximately one-third of the country’s 660 stations are either unmanned or have just one serving garda.

The figures also highlight how there had been significant changes in the number of gardaí serving in different divisions over the past four years.