20 July 2017
By Elaine Murphy
elaine@TheCork.ie
Cork Southwest Fine Gael TD and Minister of state at the Department of Health has requested a review of Garda Station closures in West Cork, and is confident that a number of rural Garda Stations in the area could be set to reopen in the coming months.
Jim Daly TD
The Clonakilty based TD said that every sector of society had to put their shoulder to the wheel during the recent recession and contribute to the rectifying of the state’s balance sheet which was left bankrupt by the previous administration.
The newly appointed Minister at the Department of Health also made reference to the re-opening of Stepaside station in the Dublin constituency of Minister for Transport Shane Ross and said, “If one station closure in the country is up for discussing its reopening, then it is my opinion that each and every closure across the country should be revaluated”.
“While savings had to be found in every department during the recession I think that the passage of time has proven that rural Garda stations are a source of comfort to people living in the nearby vicinity, particularly if they are living alone. It is also worth noting that the savings achieved by the closures have proved to be miniscule in the overall Justice budget. From the conversations I have had with constituents over the past while there is no doubt in my mind that these rural stations play an important role in people’s sense of security and wellbeing” stated the Minister for Mental Health.
The West Cork TD went on to say that he had discussed three closures in particular across West Cork with the Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan last week, and had asked the Minister to carry out a full detailed review of the closure of Adrigole, Ballinspittle and Ballydehob stations. “Minister Flanagan gave me a good hearing and I am cautiously optimistic a review at this stage will result positive for West Cork” concluded Minister Daly.
