A LOCAL TD has called for a Garda station to be reopened in her constituency.
The Department of Justice has confirmed that work is currently underway to identify six Garda stations that were closed during the height of the recession to be reopened as part of a pilot scheme.
Dublin Fingal TD Louise O’Reilly (SF) said Rush must not be forgotten when these stations are being considered.
Deputy O’Reilly said the Programme for Partnership Government made a firm commitment to launch a pilot scheme to reopen six Garda stations.
However, she said that following questions to Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald previously, it seemed there was “scant detail” on the basis upon which stations would be chosen for the pilot.
“Indeed, while the Minister advised that the Garda Commissioner and the Policing Authority have responsibility for this area, she did say that she will have a role in this,” Deputy O’Reilly told Northside People
“The closure of Rush Garda Station has left a void in the policing of North Fingal.
“Rush, due to its geographical location, is distinctly disadvantaged in regards to responses to calls, with the only fully operational Garda station in Balbriggan.
“Having received numerous calls from residents and shop owners in relation to this, I spent a large amount of time last year collecting a petition of signatures in the local community.
“Every weekend we were meeting people on this and they voiced their anger over the current situation.
“In that regard, I submitted the petition to the Minister to demonstrate first-hand the groundswell of support for the reopening of the station.”
Deputy O’Reilly believes the petition and the local support carry great weight in terms of the merits of having Rush included in the pilot scheme.
“In recent months, serious violent crime has visited the community of Fingal and I believe that as part of the pilot scheme, all areas should be considered equally on their merit and their need for increased Garda presence in the community,” she stated.
“Reopening Rush Garda station and restoring services to Lusk, I believe, should be part of this.
“I will continue to push for this with the Minister and the Department in the weeks ahead.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Justice said it is important to point out that the Garda Commissioner has statutory responsibility for the distribution of Garda resources in the State, including in relation to Garda stations.
“The Government has requested the Garda Commissioner, while fully cognisant of her statutory functions in relation to the distribution of Garda resources in the State, to identify six stations for reopening on a pilot basis to determine possible positive impacts that such openings will have on criminal activity, with special emphasis on burglaries, theft and public order,” the spokesperson told Northside People.
“Work is currently underway in An Garda Síochána to identify the six stations for inclusion in the pilot. The Tánaiste expects to receive a report from the Commissioner by the end of May.
“It is intended that the results of the pilot scheme will feed into the wider ongoing review by the Garda Síochána Inspectorate, at the request of the Policing Authority, of the dispersal and use of resources available to An Garda Síochána in the delivery of policing services to local communities.”
