Rush Garda Station set to reopen 

REPORT or no report, Rush Garda Station must be reopened immediately, according to a local TD.

Dublin Fingal TD Louise O’Reilly (SF) was responding to news that the reopening of the station is likely to be recommended to Cabinet at the end of June. Alan Farrell (FG), also a TD for the constituency, and a member of the Oireachtas Justice and Equality Committee, said: “I am pleased to receive news that the reopening of Rush Garda Station this year is being actively considered as part of the pilot scheme to reopen six Garda stations.

“A Garda interim report was presented to Cabinet on Tuesday (June 13). I have been informed that this report has stated that the reopening of Rush Garda Station is receiving active consideration from An Garda Síochána.

“Should the recommendation be made for the reopening of a Garda station on the northside of Dublin, it is my understanding that Rush Garda Station would be prioritised in this regard.”

Deputy Farrell said many residents in the local community and surrounding areas have been understandably concerned since the station’s closure.

“I have advocated for the reopening of this station to the Minister for Justice and Equality on numerous occasions,” he added.

“I sincerely hope that the reopening of Rush Garda station will be recommended by An Garda Síochána by the end of this month, and receive the green-light from Cabinet.”  

However, Deputy O’Reilly said: “Report or no report, recommendation or no recommendation, Rush Garda Station should be immediately reopened.

“It doesn’t take a report on the future of Garda stations to tell the people of Rush that their Garda station should be reopened.

“The decision to close it in the first place by the previous Fine Gael and Labour Government was a colossal failure and move of the greatest short sightedness.”

Deputy O’Reilly said the station’s closure 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,” she argued.

“Consequently, in recent months, serious violent crime has arisen within the Fingal community. I firmly believe that the reopening of Rush Garda Station would curb such crime and bring safety and security to the people of Rush and Dublin Fingal.

Given the local anger and the demand from residents and shop owners to have Rush Garda station reopened, I collected hundreds of signatures for a petition from the people of Rush and the surrounding area and made it available to the (former) Minister for Justice Francis Fitzgerald for consideration when drafting her interim report.”

Deputy O’Reilly said it is looking like “people power” has paid off.

“They deserve the protection and security that comes with an open and active Garda station,” she added.

A spokesman for the Department of Justice told Northside People: “The Commissioner (Nóirín O’Sullivan) has indicated that she will be submitting her final report at the end of this month.”