06/12/2012

100 More Garda Stations To Close

Announcing the biggest restructuring of An Garda Síochána in its 90-year history, Minister for Justice and Defence Alan Shatter has said 100 Garda stations across the State are to close.

The closures represent just one part of a sweeping programme of change that has received heavy criticised.

The existing 28 Garda districts are to be amalgamated into 14, while seven stations, including Dublin Airport and six in Cork city, will have their opening hours reduced.

Stations at Kill O’ the Grange and Stepaside in Dublin are the largest of those to close.

Galway is set to lose 10 stations, Kerry will lose 9, alongside eight in Clare and six in Limerick. Leitrim and Donegal will each lose 5.

The closures will begin next year and follows 39 closures this year.

Mr Shatter said the 564 that remained compared favourably to similar jurisdictions in Northern Ireland and Scotland.

The Garda Representative Association, which represents almost 11,200 rank-and-file gardaí in a 13,500-strong force, was critical of the closure plans.

It said the loss to the community will be “immeasurable”, adding the plan was being put in place with no consultation.

“Patrols will be reduced and a safe breeding ground for future criminals will fill the void,” said association president John Parker.

(H)

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