Vol. 210 No. 6
asked the Minister for Justice whether it is intended under new arrangements that Castlerea, County Roscommon will cease to be a district headquarters of the Garda Síochána; whether he is aware of protests made by Castlerea Development Association regarding this proposal; and if he will state the reasons for it.
51.
asked the Minister for Justice whether it is proposed that Roscommon town will no longer be a divisional headquarters for the Garda of Roscommon and East Galway, and that, instead, Roscommon will be amalgamated with the Longford-Westmeath area; and whether under this proposal the number of Gardaí stationed in Roscommon town will be reduced.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 51 together.
I have not yet received the full recommendations of the Commissioner, Garda Síochána, arising out of his review of the existing policing arrangements for the Divisions of Roscommon-East Galway and Longford-Westmeath and, pending their receipt and consideration, I cannot say what changes are likely to take place.
Is the Minister aware that it is common knowledge in Roscommon, and the other areas to which I refer, that the divisional headquarters is being changed to Athlone, and would the Minister, even though he has not officially received the report, make sure that at this stage no such change will be allowed to take place?
These are matters in which I have to have regard to the opinion of the Commissioner in relation to the best arrangements for the policing of the country as a whole, and of different areas in particular. When I receive any proposals of this sort, whether they involve the change of a district headquarters, the reduction to one-man status, or the closing of a station, I shall give full regard to all local representations which I receive before coming to any decision.
The Minister at times has shown wisdom in dealing with his experts. Is he aware that the experts who are advising him on this division aim at spending £30,000 in that locality on the basis that Roscommon will be the headquarters? Surely the Minister could now consider it more advisable to listen to the views of other experts on a matter of this nature.
The Deputy is using an argument, rather than a question.
The town of Roscommon to which I have referred is in a bad way at the moment. Any further reduction in its status, or the number of people living in it, will have a further adverse effect on that locality. Will the Minister bear that in mind when the decision is being made?
If I receive any proposals for changes in or structure of the Garda administration in these three divisions, I shall undertake, if it is required, to meet the Deputies from these areas and discuss the matter with them.
After the by-election.
