Reopening Garda stations
Deputy Murphy pressed for progress on the promised pilot scheme to reopen six Garda stations and asked whether legislation was needed. The Taoiseach said the Government remained committed, that the Garda Commissioner’s recommendations would guide the sequence, and that the promise would be met.
I clearly recall a commitment in the programme for Government on the introduction of a pilot scheme for the reopening of six Garda stations. The only conversation I have heard was about Stepaside in Dublin, which has not happened.
I certainly hope the Government is not sidestepping this issue because it is a commitment into which it entered. Where does this stand? Do we need to introduce legislation? I spoke to my constituency colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Denis Naughten, about one Garda station that was closed some years ago under a different Commissioner. It is on a national primary route - the N5, a seriously busy route - in the village of Tarmonbarry, through which the River Shannon runs and which the Taoiseach travels through on a weekly basis. It is really important that the six Garda stations are reopened under the pilot scheme that was promised in the programme for Government.
