asked the Minister for Justice if, in view of the recent increase in the rate of crime and vandalism in the Tallaght area of Dublin, he will allocate additional manpower and patrol cars to the Garda Station there.
Written Answers. - Tallaght (County Dublin) Crime Rate.
188.
The detailed deployment of members of the Force and the precise allocations of official transport to be made to individual areas from time to time are matters to be decided primarily by the Garda authorities.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the upward trend in the incidence of crime and vandalism in the Tallaght area is a matter of particular concern and special measures have been taken to deal with the situation through the use of additional patrols and the services of the Crime Task Force which is based at Garda Headquarters and is called out to supplement the local policing arrangements in any area of the Dublin Metropolitan Area as the need arises. The local Garda service is also augmented by plainclothes patrols operated by the Special Task Force.
The current Garda strength at Tallaght is the maximum that can be provided at present having regard to overall resources and other demands on Garda services, but the question of increasing the strength at the centre will be further considered by the Garda authorities according as the additional manpower at present in training becomes available for assignment. There are no proposals at present for the allocation of additional official transport to the centre but the matter will be kept under review.