A total of 31 Garda stations are to be closed across the State next year following a reduction of €79 million in the force’s budget.
The opening hours of a further 10 stations are set to be reduced and eight others previously deemed to be non-operational will not reopen.
Dublin is to be hardest hit by the closures with four stations set to close completely and the opening hours of 10 others to be reduced. Six Garda stations are to close in Co Cork, with Co Mayo losing four and Co Kerry three.
The Garda Representative Association said the closures would “change the DNA of policing in Ireland”.
In Dublin, Garda stations at Rush, Whitehall, Dalkey and Harcourt Terrace will close permanently.
Opening hours are to be reduced from 24 hours to a 10am-8pm basis at stations in Cabinteely, Stepaside, Kill O’ the Grange, Sundrive, Terenure, Cabra, Malahide, Santry, Howth, and Donnybrook.
In Co Cork, Garda stations at Glenville, Knocknagree, Ballyfeard, Goleen and Inchigeela are to close. Stations at Castletownsend and Ballygurteen in Co Cork that were previously said to be non-operational will not reopen.
Residents of Glenisland, Tourmakeady, Mulranny and Bellacorrik in Co Mayo will also see local stations close this year, while Ballylongford, Moyvane and An Clochán in Co Kerry are also affected.
Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan said An Garda Síochána had to find savings in order to operate within its reduced budget and provide a policing service with greater efficiency.
“We have decided that resources could be better deployed and more effectively used on the frontline if those particular stations no longer had to be staffed and maintained,” he said.
Mr Callinan said local Garda management in affected areas would consult with locals to see “how best to continue to deliver a policing service in their area” in the coming months.
“There is a challenge there for us in managing public expectations and explaining that while a policing service may not always be provided in the same way as it was in the past, it is no less effective and our commitment to the community is not diminished,” he said.
Garda Representative Association president Damien McCarthy said policing in Ireland had always been from within the community, rather than being imposed, and that the tradition was now under threat.
“To close the Garda station in the community re-engineers the genetic code of policing in this country,” he said. “The implications of such are that it will be harder to gather the information and intelligence that effective crime prevention, detection and investigation relies upon. Crimes become harder to solve.”
Station closures:
Dublin Metropolitan Region
Rush, Whitehall, Dalkey and Harcourt Terrace
Western Region
Corrandulla in Galway
Glenisland, Tourmakeady, Mulranny and Bellacorrik in Mayo
Loughglynn and Cootehall in Roscommon/Longford
Carrigaholt in Clare
Southern Region
Shanagolden and Doon in Limerick
Glenville in Cork North
Knocknagree, Ballyfeard, Goleen and Inchigeela in Cork West
Ballylongford, Moyvane and An Clochán in Kerry
Northern Region
Clontibret and Smithborough in Monaghan
Tullyvin in Cavan
Culdaff and Dunkineely in Donegal
Kiltyclogher, Bunnanadden and Drumkeeran in Sligo /Leitrim
South Eastern Region
Baldwinstown, Wexford
Non-operational stations set to close permanently:
Castletownsend and Ballygurteen in Cork
Ballinure and Ballinderry in Tipperary
Ballywilliam in Wexford
Doochary in Donegal;
Geashill in Laois/Offaly
Tarmonbarry in Roscommon/Longford.
Reduced hours:
Cabinteely, Stepaside, Kill O’ the Grange, Sundrive, Terenure, Cabra, Malahide, Santry, Howth, and Donnybrook in Dublin.
