Assurances sought on Garda station’s future

Dublin People 27 Nov 2011

ASSURANCES are being sought that a north county Dublin
Garda station will not be closed or face restricted hours as part of a
Government review.

Minister for Justice Alan Shatter last week refused to
confirm or deny reports that Malahide Garda Station is due to close and
possibly merge with Swords Garda Station.

Rumours are rife that the Malahide station is for the
chop as a result of massive cutbacks looming for the policing strategy.

While mergers and closures haven’t been confirmed,
Minister Shatter warned that unpopular cutbacks were on the way.

Dublin North Senator Darragh O’Brien (FF) called on
the Minister to provide assurances on the future of the Northside stations..

“There is grave concern in Malahide, Kinsealy and
Portmarnock about the review being carried out in the Dublin metropolitan
policing area,

? said Senator O’Brien.

“Malahide is a significant station with 33 gardai.

“It has been there since the foundation of the State
and was an RIC barracks before that.

“The population of the area is 25,000 and growing.

Senator O’Brien said there were also doubts about the
future of Howth Garda Station.

“The closure of this station would mean the entire
local authority area of Malahide and Howth, with a population of 50,000
residents, would not have a Garda station.

Senator O’Brien said he was

“disappointed with the
lack of clarity

? on when a decision would be reached in relation to the
cutbacks.

“The closure and rationalisation of Garda stations has
largely been reported as a rural issue,

? he added.

“This is not the case. Garda stations in Whitehall,
Howth, Malahide and other urban locations are also threatened.

Minister for Justice Alan Shatter was forced to
outline the position in relation to policing cutbacks in the Dail last week.

In response to Dail questions he stated that a final
decision on whether station closures will take place – and if so what station –
will be taken in the context of the Commissioner’s draft Policing Plan for 2012
and would be announced shortly.

“It is the case that, as with every other public
sector organisation, the Garda Siochana is going to have to manage with reduced
resources,

? he stated.

“The Garda Commissioner has therefore quite properly
been reviewing all aspects of the Garda Siochana’s policing model, including
the deployment of personnel, the utilisation of modern technologies and the
operation of Garda stations, both in terms of opening hours and possible
closures.

Minister Shatter added:

“The purpose of the review is
to ensure that Garda resources are managed and deployed in the most appropriate
manner to meet existing and emerging policing requirements, and to maintain
Garda frontline service to the greatest extent possible, which is consistent
with Government policy.