Fitzgerald seeks approval for Garda station re-opening scheme

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald will today seek the Cabinet’s approval for the re-opening of six closed Garda stations as part of a pilot project to study the impact on local crime.

She will seek agreement to allow Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan to begin the pilot, which will later be reviewed by the Policing Authority.

The six stations to be re-opened will be chosen by Ms O’Sullivan, though the Irish Examiner speculates that Stepaside station could re-open to fulfil a condition of Transport Minister Shane Ross’s participation in the Government.

Ms Fitzgerald has previous defended Garda station closures - of which there were 100 in 2013 - but Fine Gael struck a deal to launch the pilot while negotiating to form a Government with Independent TDs.