asked the Minister for Justice the hours each day during which the various Garda stations are open to the public in the various towns in County Kildare in which they are situated; and if consideration will be given to extending the opening hours.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Kildare Garda Stations.
21.
(Limerick East): Particulars of the current opening hours of all Garda stations in County Kildare are set out in a tabular statement which I propose to circulate in the Official Report.
The Garda authorities have informed me that, in the case of the stations which are not open on a 24 hour basis, the opening hours have been fixed so as to enable the local gardaí to carry out the maximum amount of outdoor police duties while maintaining a reasonably adequate office service. They consider that this arrangement makes the best use of available resources and they have no proposals at present to extend the opening hours at any of the stations in question.
Following is the statement:
Opening hours of Garda Stations in County Kildare
|
A |
Stations with 24 hour opening |
|
|
Droichead Nua |
||
|
Kildare |
||
|
Naas |
||
|
B |
Stations with restricted opening hours |
|
|
Weekdays |
Sunday |
|
|
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. |
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. |
|
|
Athy |
2 p.m. to 6 p.m. |
2 p.m. to 6 p.m. |
|
7 p.m. to 1 a.m. |
7 p.m. to 1 a.m. |
|
|
Kilcock |
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. |
12 noon to 1 p.m. |
|
5 p.m. to 6 p.m. |
||
|
Celbridge |
||
|
Clane |
||
|
Kilcullen |
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. |
12 noon to 2 p.m. |
|
Maynooth |
||
|
Monasterevin |
||
|
Ballymore-Eustace |
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. |
Not open |
|
Ballytore |
||
|
Carbury |
Monday, Thursday, Saturday 4 |
|
|
Castledermot |
p.m. to 6 p.m. |
Not open |
|
Kill |
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, |
|
|
Rathangan |
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. |
|
|
Robertstown |
Is the Minister aware of the very persistent demands from people in those areas for an extension of the opening hours to ensure better policing and to deter crime?
(Limerick East): I am aware of the demand, but it need not necessarily have the effect which the Deputy suggests. As soon as people are taken off the beat to man a station, there are fewer gardaí available on the beat, even though there are more gardaí available within the station to provide an answering service to members of the public.
If the stations were open to the public on a longer basis, would the Minister agree that the delay which exists at present in relation to the reporting of crimes might be eliminated?
(Limerick East): When stations are open there is a reduction in the delay in reporting crimes. The provision of a communications system under the new radio network with the use of the Green Man we talked about yesterday will provide ready access for members of the public through this medium from stations which are not manned at a particular time to a central station. This will speed up the reporting of crime.
22.
asked the Minister for Justice the towns in County Kildare which have a population of more than 5,000 but which do not have the services of a Garda station.
(Limerick East): Leixlip is the only centre in County Kildare with a population in excess of 5,000 in which a Garda station is not located. It is served from Lucan station in the Dublin Metropolitan Area.
Having regard to the massive increase in the population in Leixlip in the past ten or 15 years, and taking into account the fact that the original population in the region of 700 to 800 has now reached 12,000 to 14,000, would it not be advisable for the Minister to give serious consideration to providing a Garda station in Leixlip and thereby alleviating some of the burden placed on the officers in the Lucan station which is two miles away?
(Limerick East): The present arrangement is that the Leixlip area is policed from the station in Lucan. In 1971 the census showed that the population in Leixlip was 2,414. The Garda estimate the current population at approximately 10,000. There has been some improvement because the Lucan station policed an area with a population of approximately 2,370 which is now being policed from Ronaldstown station. There are more gardaí available for the Leixlip area. I take the Deputy's general point that areas which expand in population with such rapidity must be kept under constant review to ensure that the best possible policing arrangements are made.
Is the Minister aware that over the past couple of years there has been a steady and alarming increase in the rate of petty crime in the Leixlip area with break-ins, robberies, muggings and attacks on elderly people? Does he consider that this necessitates a reappraisal of the station with a view to providing a Garda station there?
(Limerick East): I am not aware of the incidents to which the Deputy referred. If he provides me with the information I will ask the Commissioner to reconsider the position.
Arising from the Minister's reply in relation to Lucan policing the Leixlip area, can he indicate approximately how many gardaí are required in an area to keep one garda on the beat around the clock? Allowing for the number of gardaí who may be on leave, off duty, or sick, how many gardaí are required to ensure the presence of one garda on the beat?
That is a separate question.
It arises from the Minister's reply.
(Limerick East): The Deputy has pointed to a particular difficulty in operational matters. I could not do the mental arithmetic required at the moment. In general, if you open a small Garda station in a community you would need a garda sergeant, a garda and somebody on communications, that is, three people in the station. It would probably take something like 12, 13 or 14 to keep the three there for 24 hours a day seven days a week. I presume the point the Deputy is making is that with a roster system you would need a very large number since policing is a 24 hour a day seven days a week job.