WHAT WAS happening in rural Ireland was a reversal of decentralisation, it was claimed at Kerry County Council yesterday.
While local Garda stations in rural areas were being closed, criminals were moving there to avoid policing in urban centres, it was claimed.
Four motions raising concerns about the closure of rural Garda stations in Kerry, from Independent and Fianna Fáil councillors, were approved by Kerry County Council yesterday, with submissions to be made to Minister for Justice Alan Shatter.
Along with 10 smaller Garda stations earmarked for closure, at least two rural courthouses were also being considered for closure, it was feared.
District offices in Killarney had already been transferred to Tralee, the motor licensing system was being transferred to Dublin and what was happening in rural Ireland was “a reversal of decentralisation”, the meeting heard.
The county was one of the most challenging geographically, with a large coastline and three peninsulas.
Whole swathes with populations of up to 7,500 in mid-Kerry would be left without Garda stations under new proposals, councillors said.
Minister for Justice Alan Shatter was called on not to use early retirements by large numbers of gardaí in advance of changes to the public service pensions in February as “an excuse to close the stations”.
Some 10 stations were being considered for closure, Councillor Michael O’Shea (Fianna Fáil) said.
Criminals were moving into quiet rural areas to avoid the heat of urban areas, Councillor Michael Gleeson said.
Councillor Brendan Cronin (Ind) said the recession was bringing increases in break-ins and there had been a huge increase in the theft of heating oil, copper, money and jewellery in the mid-Kerry and Killarney areas.
Post offices and creameries had closed and applications for motor licensing were now to be dealt with in Dublin, the meeting heard.
Solicitor and councillor Paul O’Donoghue (FF) said there was an attack on the justice system in rural Ireland with a focus on centralisation. Legal services were threatened. The District Court office in Killarney had provided “a vital service” to south Kerry and particularly in the area of family law. It had now been transferred to Tralee.
“The Minister must clarify the suggestion that Killorglin and Castleisland court houses are to be closed down,” Mr O’Donoghue said.
The county had six TDs and five Senators – the highest number ever of Oireachtas members for Kerry – and they needed to fight for the Garda stations and courts services, he said. What was happening was “a reversal of decentralisation”, Councillor Danny Healy-Rae (Ind) said.
A joint policing committee meeting chaired by Fine Gael councillor Patrick O’ConnorScarteen also yesterday moved to write to Mr Shatter to outline concerns about the future of rural stations and the early retirement of gardaí before the changes in pension schemes in Kerry.