Major changes are proposed for how An Garda Siochana is managed.
One of the biggest changes concern how the Garda is organised on the ground, with a proposal that the Northern Region, which includes Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim, become part of a much larger region.
There are six regions, divided into divisions overseen by a chief superintendent, with each division divided into districts, under a superintendent.
Most garda divisions would double in size under the new proposals.
The current Northern Region includes counties Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan and Louth.
However, under the new proposals, a North Western Region would run from Mayo to Louth and from Donegal to Galway, taking in counties Mayo, Galway, Roscommon and Longford.
That includes all the counties in the current Western Region except Clare.
The proposals envisages a reduction in the number of regions from six to four and a cut in garda divisions from 28 to 19, with a similar reducton in the number of chief superintendents.
The proposed reorganisation is part of Garda Commissioner Drew Harris’s plan to revamp how Garda services are managed and delivered.
However, concern about the proposals have been voiced by the Garda Representative Association and Irish Rural Link.
Ray Wims, Sligo/Leitrim representative on the Garda Representative Association, told the North West Today show that gardai want change that will will them do their jobs on the ground.
But he says the emphasis instead seems to be on how the force is administered.
He also says that just because something appears in the media does not mean it is going to happen.
