GARDA COMMISSIONER Martin Callinan has asked chief superintendents around the country to draw up a list of Garda stations that could be closed as the force prepares for Government cuts to its funding in the upcoming budget.
The Irish Timesunderstands the lists have already been prepared in some Garda divisions, with sources indicating 24 stations in Donegal have been earmarked for possible closure. While Donegal is a large and mainly rural division and so has more small and part-time Garda stations than most other divisions, similar numbers of closures could be identified in locations such as Cork and Kerry.
More than 200 small stations could be closed across all counties nationwide, according to sources.
The stations most likely to be closed are those manned by one Garda and opened only part-time. There are 240 one-man Garda stations nationwide of a total of just over 700 stations.
The move to identify stations that could be closed comes as at a time when policing is already contracting significantly. The Garda is facing a large fall in members as the rate of retirement increases, combined with the suspension of Garda recruitment. Garda numbers have already fallen by 500 to about 14,000 and an estimated 1,200 members have 30 years of service and are entitled to take early retirement immediately.
A large number of these are expected to retire before the end of February in a bid to maintain their full pensions. Any public servant who retires after that point will see their pensions reduced in line with recent public sector pay cuts.
The Garda is also facing a brain drain at senior management level. Of the 44 chief superintendents across the Garda, 33 can retire early at any time.
Sources familiar with the proposal to close stations say hundreds of stations will be identified for the purpose by the time lists from all divisions are prepared and filed with Garda headquarters.
It is anticipated that not all of those proposed for closure will be closed. However, any closures of smaller stations will prove very politically sensitive. Closing stations will be seen as a blow to policing generally and an attack on rural areas.
Chief superintendents were contacted this month and asked to draw up the lists. The review is part of a wider cost-cutting trawl in the force.
Notices have been posted by headquarters on the Garda internal website seeking other cost-cutting ideas.