Connacht Tribune

Law is an ass – shutting ten Galway Garda stations saves just €770 a week

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The closure of ten Garda stations across County Galway is delivering savings of just €770 a week or €40,000 per year, the Government has conceded.

Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald has confirmed that the sweeping cutbacks of rural Garda station closures, particularly in rural parts of East and South Galway but also near Tuam and Connemara, has saved just €4,000 per station.

Sinn Féin claims the figures prove the Coalition is “sacrificing our safety and security for a paltry saving” amid heightened fears about rural crime.

In 2013, the Government closed the doors on ten Garda stations in the county. The closed stations were Ballymoe and Kilconly in the Tuam District; Kilchreest, Kilcolgan and Shanaglish in the former Gort District, which is now downgraded; Kiltullagh in the Galway District; Leenane in the Clifden District; Menlough in the Ballinasloe District; and New Inn and Tynagh in the Loughrea District.

This week, it emerged that An Garda Síochána has saved just €4,000 on average for each of the stations that were closed, amounting to an annual saving of €40,000.

Minister Fitzgerald confirmed the information to Sinn Féin justice spokesperson Padráig MacLochlainn in response to a parliamentary question.

The party’s general election candidate in Galway East, Annemarie Roche said the savings are “paltry”, and she has demanded that Garda numbers be increased over the safe threshold of 14,000.

Ms Roche said many communities were living in fear over the threat of rural crime and they would be shocked by the level of savings resulting from the closures.

“Over the course of 2012 and 2013, a total of ten Garda stations were closed in the county, including eight in the East Galway area, by this government. Now we hear that the total saving made as a result of each station closure is a mere €4,000.

“The government is sacrificing our safety and security for a paltry saving. They have robbed us of our peace of mind for the sake of €40,000 per annum,” she said.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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