O’Brien disappointed at slow delivery on Rush Garda Station reopening

      - Politicians passing responsibility to Garda Commissioner to make the decision -
​Local Fianna Fáil TD, Darragh O’Brien has said that he is beyond disappointed that, four months after Rush Garda Station was placed on a list for reopening, no progress has been made.

Deputy O’Brien was commenting after receiving a reply to a parliamentary question he submitted to the Minister for Justice and Equality seeking an update on the opening of Rush station.

“It’s clear from the Minister’s reply that the impetus to reopen Rush Garda Station from a political level has been lost, and it’s now being pushed back onto the Garda Commissioner to make a decision.

“The Minister, in his reply, states that “if a second station is to be reopened in Dublin, the report indicates that the Commissioner is likely, subject to further analysis, likely to recommend that the former station at Rush to be included in the pilot scheme.

“This is a statement full of multiple caveats that is designed to let the politicians off the hook, and it’s very disappointing to me, but more importantly to the people of Rush.

“Rush is a major urban area in North County Dublin. With a population of over 10,000, it needs a full time Garda station. Its population over the next number of years is only going to rise.

“It made no sense to me when the station was closed a number of years ago, and I opposed it from the get go.

“Crime is an issue in Rush. There can be no getting away from this fact. There have been a number of very serious incidents over the past number of months, and without a full time Garda station with additional Garda resources, the level of criminal activity will only grow.

“Those who used the potential reopening of Rush Garda Station’s to provide cover for Minister Ross’ political campaign to reopen his local station in Stepaside need to deliver on their commitments and ensure that the people of Rush get the Garda support they urgently need,” concluded O’Brien.