A major review of the Garda Siochana will not recommend the closure of Garda stations, the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, has told the annual conference of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI).
But the president of the association, Mr Joe Dirwan, said he feared tighter budgets by the Garda Commissioner would result in the closure of stations in rural areas and the downsizing of some in cities.
The conference continues today, and the general secretary of the association, Mr George Maybury, is expected to reiterate the association's opposition to the Oireachtas sub-committee inquiry into the Abbeylara incident.
Recommendations from the Strategic Management Initiative (SMI), set up by the Government to examine the force and improve efficiency, would shatter morale in the Garda, Mr Dirwan said. "If the SMI have their way we could be looking at the decimation of the force as we know it today," he added.
If the SMI resulted in the reduction of the "core" duties of gardai, "it will fly in the face of everything which has made the Garda Siochana one of the most successful community police forces in the world".
Mr O'Donoghue said the core objective of the SMI positioned the Garda to respond to new challenges. Proposals for civilianisation would go before the Government shortly, which would allow the Garda Commissioner to release resources for high-visibility policing.
Mr Dirwan also criticised some judges for disposing of public order cases without sentences.
"There must be sanctions for thuggish conduct. Perpetrators must be caught, prosecuted and punished, " he said. There also needed to be more gardai on the streets at night.
The Minister said the number of gardai would increase to 12,000 by 2002 and, with legislative changes and increased funds for CCTV, youth crime would be tackled.
Mr Dirwan spoke out against vigilante groups and referred to their activities in Co Kerry as "an insidious movement which is clearly designed to undermine the criminal justice system of this country and which is being utilised for short-term political gain".
Mr O'Donoghue said vigilantism would not be accepted "no matter how it is dressed up". "It is intolerable for any person or persons to seek to usurp the functions of the Garda Siochana in the investigation of crime."