asked the Minister for Justice the total Garda strength in Ballyfermot, Dublin; the operative strength per relief: and the population that is served by them.
36.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ballyfermot (Dublin) Garda Strength.
35.
asked the Minister for Justice when it is proposed to increase the strength of the Garda force in Ballyfermot, Dublin.
37.
asked the Minister for Justice how the servicing of Ballyfermot, Dublin, by the Garda compares with Galway, Waterford, Dundalk and Drogheda as regards manpower and the numbers of vehicles on patrol.
38.
asked the Minister for Justice when it is proposed to include the entire Ballyfermot area, Dublin under the jurisdiction of Ballyfermot Garda station.
39.
asked the Minister for Justice the areas at present being served by Ballyfermot Garda station, Dublin.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 to 39, inclusive, together.
The present strength of Ballyfermot Garda station is 66 and the population of the Garda sub-district is estimated at 42,000. It would be contrary to established practice to publish details of the arrangements made by the Garda authorities in relation to the deployment of strength in the area. In this connection I would recall to the Deputy that in the course of the past year he himself was present when a document which included some details of the Garda deployment arrangements in Ballyfermot, was handed in to my office by a member of a deputation. That document was substantially accurate but I would deprecate the publication of this information and accordingly I do not propose to include it in my reply.
The question of increasing Garda strength at Ballyfermot will be considered when extra gardaí become available for assignment to the Dublin Metropolitan Area. It is not possible at this stage to indicate when this is likely to take place but the Commissioner is keeping the strength situation under review.
With regard to the servicing of the Ballyfermot area as compared with the other four centres mentioned, Galway, Waterford, Dundalk and Drogheda, it is not possible without being seriously misleading to make comparisons in numerical terms. Cities such as Galway and Waterford depend almost exclusively on the manpower, transport and other resources based at those centres. Indeed, these resources not only have to service these cities but to provide support services for other areas outside those cities as well. Ballyfermot, in contrast, being part of the Dublin Metropolitan Area, has available to it substantial resources of manpower and transport which are not based at the station itself. This availability of additional resources from outside the sub-district itself helps to account for the fact that the detection rate for crimes in Ballyfermot in the past two years is higher than in any of the other four areas mentioned.
The area at present served by Ballyfermot station can be summarised as follows: all Chapelizod and all Ballyfermot except Sarsfield, Lally, Ballyneety and O'Moore roads and portions of Landen, Decies and O'Hogan roads, all of which are served by Kilmainham station.
The reorganisation of the Ballyfermot and Kilmainham sub-district boundaries is at present being examined by the Garda research and planning unit. Pending completion of this examination and receipt of the Commissioner's recommendation I am not in a position to say what changes, if any, will be made in Garda sub-district boundaries in the area.
(Dublin Central): Can the Minister tell us whether he intends to increase the police force in Dublin generally?
That would not be in order. This relates to the Ballyfermot area only.
The question of an increase in the Ballyfermot area and in the rest of the Dublin Metropolitan area is a matter of how the Commissioner decides to deploy extra men who will become available to him. Recruiting is continuing apace and there will be extra men coming into the force. It will be a matter for the Commissioner to deploy them. Hopefully too, we might reach a stage where it would be possible to withdraw men from the Border but that of course is longer term.
(Dublin Central): Is the Minister aware that there is a meeting being held tonight by people in the city centre area on this matter?
The Deputy is enlarging on the subject matter of the question. That is not in order.
I know this is a matter of concern but it is essentially a social problem rather than a police problem.
(Dublin Central): The police are very necessary too.
40.
asked the Minister for Justice when it is proposed to provide facilities for the juvenile liaison officer attached to Ballyfermot Garda station, Dublin.
An office for the juvenile liaison officer at Ballyfermot will be provided as part of a scheme of improvement works for Ballyfermot station which the Office of Public Works are at present preparing. I am informed that that office hope to be in a position to invite tenders for those works in about four months' time.