Four local garda stations to close

The budget axe has fallen on four local garda stations today. As widely predicted, barracks in Ballinhown in Westmeath, Ballyforan and Knockcroghery in Roscommon and Shannonbridge in Offaly, are among 100 stations nationwide set to close in the first half of 2013. Announcing the changes, Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan said: "The current challenge for An Garda Síochána is to maintain public safety in homes, on streets and in public places while operating in an extremely difficult financial environment. This requires making difficult decisions and hard strategic choices to meet public expectations. As a consequence I am required to continually assess An Garda Síochána's capability, resilience and effectiveness." Minister for Justice Alan Shatter said of the stations to be closed, 98% are currently open part-time, 94% of stations are open for three hours or less each day, 88% are served by one garda member only and just 5% are served by three or more members. 86 of the barracks are less than ten miles from the new station and 30 are five miles or less from the new station. Minister Shatter said the objective of the consolidation of the garda station network is to secure the more efficient deployment of Garda members so that a more effective policing service can be delivered in the areas concerned. "The consolidation will free up members of An Garda Síochána from desk duties to frontline policing. There will also be small cash savings, mainly on maintenance and utilities, but that is not the primary objective. The consolidation of the stations will also mean that, where they are State-owned, they will be available for alternative community use or disposal." the Minister commented. Along with closing 100 stations, the Garda District and Station Consolidation Programme amalgamates 28 garda districts to 14 enlarged garda districts and realigns an additional 14 garda district boundaries around the country. There is no change to local garda districts.