According to reports today it could see Gardai staff ‘clinics’ at set times during the week in areas which are hit by station closures.

The Irish Independent says up to 80 Garda stations are expected to close before the end of the year.

It ius understood that the closed stations will be handed back to the Office of Public Works (OPW).

Local centres

They will be replaced by occasional clinics which will see officers meet with people in local centres like parish halls for around 2 hours twice a week.

Minor issues such as passport applications will be dealt with and the local Garda who was transferred from the closed Garda station will remain a point of contact for local residents.

The move is part of a new policing model which was discussed by senior officers at a 2-day conference earlier this week.

New vehicles

170 new patrol vehicles will also be sent out on the streets in the new year.

This is seen as a key part of the new model being discussed.

These are being purchased with additional government funding and are expected to be on our streets in early 2013.

Officers will also be expected to make greater use of social media and local radio.

But the Garda Representatives Association (GRA) President John Redmond says renting a hall several times per week would actually be more expensive than running a garda station.

And he believes it would be harder to conduct official business.