Garda headquarters in Tullamore and Birr could be downgraded

District Garda headquarters in Tullamore and Birr could soon be downgraded according to Fianna Fáil's Barry Cowen. A spokesperson from An Garda Siochana's press office this week confirmed that a review of district headquarters is currently ongoing. According to Deputy Cowen this review will bring bad news for the Laois Offaly Garda division, which has district headquarters in Tullamore, Birr and Portlaoise. "This latest review instigated by Minister Shatter will certainly lead to the downgrading of district headquarter garda stations in this region," Deputy Cowen said on Monday. Deputy Cowen said there are strong fears the district headquarters will be stripped of their status, which will result in a loss of Garda numbers and resources locally. The review on district headquarters comes after a review that saw 39 Garda stations closed nationwide earlier this year, including Geashill garda station in Offaly. A Garda spokesperson was unable to say when ongoing reviews will be completed, and resulting consequences known. Deputy Cowen is now pushing Justice Minister Alan Shatter to reveal when the review will be complete and how it will impact Garda numbers across the Laois Offaly division. "Since taking up office, Minister Shatter has been consistent in his attack on community policing and has targeted garda resources in rural areas in particular," Deputy Cowen said. "The station closures and downgrades that have already taken place this year have certainly had an impact on local communities, leaving people in remote areas in particular feeling more vulnerable in their homes as burlary rates continue to rise. I will be strongly opposing any further attack on our garda resources in this region,"