asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware of the pressing need for a patrol car to be assigned exclusively to the Garda Station at Irishtown, Dublin in order to improve resources available to the gardaí there who are overworked in relation to the increased demands that have been made on the Garda station in that area; when it is proposed to provide the extra patrol car; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - Irishtown (Dublin) Garda Station.
20.
The Garda Síochána are provided with sufficient official transport to cater for their overall needs and the precise allocations to be made to individual areas from time to time are matters for the Garda authorities.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that it is not proposed at present to allocate a patrol car to Irishtown station but that the matter will be reviewed according as additional manpower becomes available for assignment to the various stations.
The local Garda officers consider that the existing arrangements for the policing of the area served from Irishtown station, which place emphasis on beat patrols, make the best use of available resources and that the allocation of a patrol car to the station without a substantial increase in the strength of the station party would not result in an improved police service for the area.
Could the Minister indicate the age of the patrol cars in that area and the mileage they have now clocked up?
That is a separate question.
Has the Minister not got that information?
It is a separate question.
It probably embarrasses the Government. That is the very point Deputy Cooney was making a moment ago.