This article is from page 10 of the 2013-01-22 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 10 JPG
CLOSURES or a reduction in opening hours of district Garda stations has emerged as a serious concern for rural communities in Clare, a meeting has heard.
At yesterday’s meeting of Clare County Council, councillors were divided over the impact on communities of the closure of eight local Garda stations.
Stations in Quin, Inagh, Lahinch, Broadford, Mountshannon, Doon beg, Kilmihil and Labasheeda will close as part of budget cuts.
Despite strong opposition from Fine Gael members, a motion tabled by three Fianna Fáíl councillors Bill Chambers, Pat Keane and Cathal Crowe, requesting the Council to call on the Minister for Justice to reverse the decision to close the sta- tions – was voted through by 18 votes to 10.
Opening the debate, Cllr Chambers said the closure “represents another nail in the coffin of rural Ireland”.
He added, “The very core of what rural Ireland is and represents is being eroded by a government that seems to have turned its back on its grass roots.”
Cllr Crowe said the closure of the Broadford Garda Station would only save the Exchequer € 5,000 per annum. He said Government Oireachtas members should give their political and financial justification for the closures in the Council Chamber.
Cllr Gerry Flynn (Ind) said stations give rural communities a sense of comfort and security. He added, “This Government stands for closing down rural Ireland.”
Cllr PJ Kelly (FF) said a form of “rural decommissioning” is taking place, calling for a major re-activation of the community alert scheme.
However the closures were defended by Fine Gael members who said Gardaí would now be freed up for mobile patrols.
Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) said he had been given assurances by Chief Supt of the Clare Garda Division, John Kerin, that policing in rural areas would not suffer.
Of greater concern, Cllr Cooney argued, was a proposed reduction in opening hours of Killaloe Garda Station.
Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) said crime levels had fallen in Ennis and that the county compares favourably to Limerick and Galway. He said in light of reduced crime levels, he could not support the motion.
Cllr Patricia McCarthy (Ind) said she would rather see gardaí on the beat than spending a few hours a day in a station.
Cllr Christy Curtin (Ind) said the closures represented “devastation” for West Clare.
Cllr Pat Burke (FG) told the meeting that while the closures are regrettable, people in Mountshannon are not concerned. He said the area would be well served by community gardaí and a re-invigorated community alert service.
Cllr Burke said Chief Supt Kerin had said gardaí would be willing to hold clinics with communities concerned about crime.
Cllr Joe Arkins (FG) said communities would be better served by mobile Garda patrols, adding, “Crimes don’t happen in Garda stations.”
Cllr Richard Nagle (FF) said the closures are serious; adding that only two stations – Kilrush and Ennistymon – would cover an area from Loop Head to the Galway border.
He said, “There will be continued retirement with no recruitment. The idea that you can keep stretching resources is not realistic.”
Cllr Cathal Crowe claimed later that Fine Gael councillors were engaged in “more flanking and shielding of Minister (for Justice) Alan Shatter than you would see in Thomond Park.”
He added, “You’re here to either shield your Minister or represent your communities. I know why I’m here.”
This drew a strong response from Cllr Joe Cooney who said he had never shielded any Minister. “I’ll stand up for the people of Clare and I always will,” he said.
Councillors also agreed on a motion from Cllr Joe Arkins that said in the event of any station closures, any additional resources be allocated to mobile patrols.