Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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9. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if any of the Garda station closures in counties Sligo and Leitrim are likely to be reversed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40457/16]

Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice if any Garda station closures in counties Sligo and Leitrim are likely to be reversed and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that I have asked the Policing Authority to oversee a review of, among other matters, the dispersal of Garda stations in rural areas. I understand that the Policing Authority has, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, formally requested the Garda Síochána Inspectorate to examine the dispersal and use of resources available to the Garda Síochána in the delivery of policing services to local communities and to make recommendations to provide a more effective, visible and responsive policing service. The Policing Authority has informed the inspectorate that the review should take account of the changing environments in rural, developing urban and suburban areas, the views of local communities, the allocation and deployment of Garda resources at the local policing level - including the use of Garda reserves, facilities and equipment - and relevant recommendations made in previous inspectorate reports.

The Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is primarily responsible for the effective and efficient use of the resources available to her. This includes responsibility for the formulation of proposals regarding the opening and closing of Garda stations, taking into account crime trends and policing priorities, as I have said, so as to make the best possible use of these resources. This was the basis on which the Garda district and station rationalisation programme of 2012-2013 was developed and implemented.

I understand that many of the closed stations that were returned to the control of the Office of Public Works, including those in the Sligo-Leitrim Garda division, have either been sold or assigned to other uses, including for use by community groups.

The Deputy will be aware that I have requested the Garda Commissioner to identify six stations for reopening on a pilot basis in line with the commitment in the programme for Government. This pilot scheme is intended to feed into the wider review being overseen by the Policing Authority. This process should examine the needs of local communities, as I said, and take account of the various relevant issues in determining what needs to be done, if anything, in particular areas.

Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware that the Government has asked the Commissioner to consider opening six Garda stations, both urban and rural. Does the Tánaiste have any idea whether the Commissioner has indicated when this might happen? Some of the stations closed in south Sligo, such as those in Aclare, Bunnanaddan and Coolaney, are now being covered by Tobercurry. The Garda station in Tobercurry is small. It was built quite a long time ago and can facilitate four or five gardaí. At present, a sergeant and eight gardaí, two of whom are female, are stationed there. The facilities there are very poor and not satisfactory by today's standards for people in a workplace. Will the Tánaiste ask her officials to consider Tobercurry Garda station with a view to having the building updated and extended? As a result of the closures of Garda stations in all the areas I have mentioned, this station has greater responsibility, covers a much larger area and needs the facilities of a modern building.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Perhaps the Deputy would send me the details of the final point he made. As I said, I have asked the Policing Authority to oversee a review of, among other matters, the boundaries of the Garda districts and the dispersal of Garda stations in rural areas. The Policing Authority has asked the Garda Síochána Inspectorate to examine this. This will take some time. I do not have a precise timeframe for this work at present, but the inspectorate is working on it and planning to carry out that review.

Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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The Tánaiste might revert to me when she has some information in that regard.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Question No. 11 is in the name of Deputy Gino Kenny. Does he wish to pass?

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Yes.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Question No. 15 is in the name of Deputy Bríd Smith.

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I was due to respond to Question No. 11.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My apologies.

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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It concerns the UN convention.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I have asked Deputy Gino Kenny about the question. He has passed up-----

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Shall I take the question? I think we are okay-----

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Yes, the Deputy can take it.

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I apologise. I thought we were stuck for time.