Further Garda station closures likely in Mayo

Further Garda station closures likely in Mayo


Ciara Galvin
ciaragalvin@mayonews.ie

Further reforms to Ireland’s policing system are set to be submitted to Minister for Justice Alan Shatter next month - and the likelihood is more Mayo Garda stations will close.
Thirty-nine stations closed last year and speculation is rife that another 40 could go and be replaced by ‘clinics’, being set up in places like parish halls and community centres instead.
Proposed clinics would be run by gardaí for a number of hours, two days a week, in order to perform administrative duties, and tend to such things as passport applications and driving licences.
The closed stations will be handed over to the Office of Public Works and, on a temporary basis, could be used for clinics while their future is decided.
An essential element of the overhaul is reported to be the use of 170 new patrol vehicles. The vehicles, which are being purchased with additional funding provided by the Government, are due to be on the streets early in the new year.
Speaking to The Mayo News about the proposed closures, Cllr Patsy O’Brien acknowledged that due to the country’s economic situation, cost saving measures were unavoidable. However, Cllr O’Brien highlighted that services still needed to be maintained.
“If stations are going to be closed they still need to make sure that services are still provided. The barracks themselves are not the service, it is the Gardaí in the barracks that provide the service,” said Cllr O’Brien, who added that since rural stations had been included in larger garda districts he felt they had ‘lost touch with grassroots’.
Talking about whether community alert programmes could play a part amidst further closures, Cllr O’Brien commended such groups for being ‘the alert for gardaí’.
“The community alert group in Clonbur are a shining example, they do a great job in alerting gardaí. Gardaí are quick to respond but it is undeniable that they are stretched.”
Cllr O’Brien insisted that he will be raising the issue of maintaining services with local Superintendents.
The list of proposed closures is expected to be submitted by Commissioner Martin Callinan to Minister Shatter by the end of next month with it then being brought to the cabinet for approval.

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