A Fine Gael TD in Galway West has accused his constituency colleague of scaremongering over the rumoured closure of one of the biggest garda stations in the county.
Seán Kyne has denied that Salthill Garda station is to be closed within the next two years.
He said that he's not aware of any such plans, and has challenged Independent TD Noel Grealish to come forward with any proof of such plans.
In reply to a recent Dáil question from Mr Grealish, Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald neither denied nor admitted that Salthill Garda station would be closed.
There are concerns that the station, which serves a large part of the west of Galway city and all areas west as far as Clifden, will be closed when the new Western Regional Garda Headquarters are built in Renmore in the east of Galway city.
Salthill station currently serves more than 20,000 people.
Independent Councillors Jim Cuddy and Seosamh Ó Cualáin - both former members of the gardaí - have criticised the plans, which if implemented, will leave the area west of the Corrib without a full Garda presence.
Mr Cuddy has challenged the Minister of Justice to state categorically that Salthill will be kept open as the district headquarters.
