Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Public Expenditure and Reform Sean Fleming has called on the Government to reinvest the €670,000 made from the sale of seven closed Garda stations in frontline garda resources.

Deputy Fleming said: “I am extremely concerned that the Government has already decided not to spend any of this money on community garda resources.  €673,000 has been generated on the sale of former garda stations.  It is the communities that lost those resources that should benefit.  We need to see this cash reinvested in supporting greater garda presence in the community and extra support in areas where garda stations have been closed by way of additional mobile patrols.

In response to a Parliamentary Question from Deputy Fleming, Minister Brian Hayes has said “50% of the proceeds will be retrained by the Exchequer and 50% will be provided to the 2015 OPW capital programme.”

Deputy Fleming said: “This is simply not good enough.  The Government has undermined the whole principle of community policing by closing garda stations, weakening the garda fleet and allowing major gaps to appear at vital levels in the force.  This €670,000 should be spent on garda resources and I will be raising this issue again with the Government.”

Please see below the list of Garda stations sold and the corresponding amount generated: 

Mallow Road, Cork: €260,000
Baldwinstown, Wexford: €75,000
Cloone, Leitrim: €50,000
Grangemockler, Tipperary: €103,000
Inchigeela, Cork: €55,000
Newtowncashel, Longford: €50,000
Lettermore, Co Galway: €80,000