Justice Minister Alan Shatter's decision to close six stations in Cavan-Monaghan has been labelled an "appalling" attack on communities.

Smith 'appalled' at station closures - statement

Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith has condemned the fresh attack on Garda Stations in Cavan and Monaghan and has questioned why the North West and border region is again being forced to bear the brunt of the cuts. The Justice Minister Alan Shatter has announced plans to close 100 garda stations in the first half of next year, including six in the Cavan-Monaghan garda division - Bawnboy, Redhills, Stradone, Corrinshigagh, Newbliss and Shantonagh. In addition to this Ballyconnell District Garda Headquarters will be downgraded and stripped of its district HQ status. Deputy Smith has described it as an 'appalling attack' on communities across Cavan, Monaghan and the border region, coming after Minister Shatter already closed Clontibret, Smithborough and Tullyvin stations earlier this year. "Within the next six months, the Cavan-Monaghan Garda division will have six less Garda stations and many of our communities will have lost their local station. Alan Shatter had warned that he was planning a second attack on Garda Stations, but even for him this is a shocking level of cuts to our local garda resources" said Deputy Smith. "The Minister sneakily announced this slash and burn on Budget day, hoping it seems that people wouldn't pay too much attention. He is sorely mistaken. Removing the garda presence from our communities on such a large scale at a time when the rate of burglaries has increased makes absolutely no sense. The presence of a local Garda station, however small, acts as a deterrent to criminals who target vulnerable households. "In this announcement, Minister Shatter is stripping six Cavan and Monaghan communities of yet another essential local service, and his casual attempts to soften the blow by offering social media gimmicks instead will not work. "Suggesting to people who feel vulnerable in their homes that they could 'tweet the gardaí' or 'find them on Facebook' is nothing short of insulting. "Minister Shatter has targeted the border and western area in particular to bear the brunt of these station closures. People in towns and villages right across this region who were worried about crime cannot believe that instead of showing leadership, Fine Gael and Labour have sanctioned such a significant slash and burn of our local garda resources. "I intend to strongly oppose these closures and I am urging the Government deputies across Cavan-Monaghan to stand up for their local communities and do the same," said Deputy Smith.