Kildare Garda station opening hours
The Minister supplied the stations’ opening hours and said there were no plans to extend them, arguing that longer public opening would take Gardaí away from outdoor duties. He acknowledged that open stations reduce reporting delays, but said the new radio network would improve access to Gardaí when stations are unmanned.
asked the Minister for Justice the hours each day during which the various Garda stations are open to the public in the various towns in County Kildare in which they are situated; and if consideration will be given to extending the opening hours.
Comment on this
(Limerick East): Particulars of the current opening hours of all Garda stations in County Kildare are set out in a tabular statement which I propose to circulate in the Official Report.
The Garda authorities have informed me that, in the case of the stations which are not open on a 24 hour basis, the opening hours have been fixed so as to enable the local gardaí to carry out the maximum amount of outdoor police duties while maintaining a reasonably adequate office service. They consider that this arrangement makes the best use of available resources and they have no proposals at present to extend the opening hours at any of the stations in question.
Following is the statement:
Opening hours of Garda Stations in County Kildare
Comment on this
Is the Minister aware of the very persistent demands from people in those areas for an extension of the opening hours to ensure better policing and to deter crime?
Comment on this
(Limerick East): I am aware of the demand, but it need not necessarily have the effect which the Deputy suggests. As soon as people are taken off the beat to man a station, there are fewer gardaí available on the beat, even though there are more gardaí available within the station to provide an answering service to members of the public.
Comment on this
If the stations were open to the public on a longer basis, would the Minister agree that the delay which exists at present in relation to the reporting of crimes might be eliminated?
Comment on this
(Limerick East): When stations are open there is a reduction in the delay in reporting crimes. The provision of a communications system under the new radio network with the use of the Green Man we talked about yesterday will provide ready access for members of the public through this medium from stations which are not manned at a particular time to a central station. This will speed up the reporting of crime.
22.