Vol. 471 No. 4
230 Ms M. Fox asked the Minister for Justice the plans, if any, she has to provide additional gardaí, at any level, in the Aughrim area of County Wicklow, in view of the recent attacks on elderly people in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21010/96]
The detailed allocation of Garda personnel and resources to individual areas is a matter for the Garda authorities. They have informed me that the present strength of Aughrim Garda station is two gardaí and that it has been maintained at this level for the past two years. I understand that the station is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily and when unmanned a direct communications link to the District Headquarters at Wicklow comes into operation. Mobile patrols of the area are carried out by units based at Wicklow and Rathdrum Garda stations and by the Divisional Traffic Corps based at Wexford Garda station.
The incidents which the Deputy referred to in her question relate to two separate attacks on two elderly brothers at their home in the Aughrim area. The Garda authorities inform me that three persons have been charged in relation to one of these attacks and that investigations are ongoing in relation to the second incident.
I have been informed that there is a common alert scheme in operation in the Aughrim area and that a meeting will be held later this month between local organisations and Garda management with a view to reinforcing the importance of the scheme.
