GARDA AUTHORITIES have released a list of 95 stations which will close by the end of the month, as the force adjusts to a cut in its central government funding.
The stations are among 100 which will close over the course of the year, after the overall Garda budget was hit by 3.8 per cent in last month’s Budget.
Confirming the list of stations to shut, Gardaí said the new “District and Station Consolidation programme” would seek to “build on the efficiencies” achieved in the force through various restructuring programmes in recent years.
They insisted, however, that the new policing arrangements would “continue to support our community policing philosophy” – and added that the new arrangements would result in increased hours of Garda patrols and an improved policing service to the public.
Justice minister Alan Shatter has previously explained that many of the stations earmarked for closure are only open on a limited-hours basis and that keeping these stations open means Gardaí are diverted from patrol duties.
98 of the 100 stations earmarked for closure over the course of the year are only open on a part-time basis, with 88 served by only one Garda. 94 of the stations are ordinarily open for three hours a day or less.
Gardaí said the programme of closures would ensure “that a high visibility and community oriented policing service continues to be delivered throughout the country”.
The list published by Gardaí this morning, which can be seen below, also outlines which other stations will be incorporating the duties of those to be closed. Five of the 95 stations will have their duties divided among multiple existing stations.
Note: The stations are listed below in alphabetical order. Details of the stations to which their duties are being assigned can be accessed on the Garda website.
Five further stations will close later in 2013:
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