asked the Minister for Justice if he has any further plans to improve the policing of the towns of Maynooth, Leixlip and Celbridge in County Kildare.
346.
Written Answers. - County Kildare Policing Arrangements.
345.
asked the Minister for Justice if he will consider the acquisition of a site at Main Street, Leixlip, County Kildare, for the provision of a Garda station to serve the area.
347.
asked the Minister for Justice if he has reconsidered the case for the provision of a Garda station at Leixlip, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
, Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 345 to 347, inclusive together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are no proposals at present for increasing Garda strength at Maynooth, Leixlip or Celbridge. Policing arrangements for the towns of Maynooth and Celbridge will, however, benefit from the first phase of the new national Garda communications network which is due to come into operation next month in areas outside the Dublin Metropolitan Area.
I have consulted the Garda authorities again about the question of providing a Garda station at Leixlip and they still consider that the present arrangement whereby the area is served from Lucan station makes the best use of available resources. They have also indicated that as a result of impending organisational change affecting the Lucan Garda sub-district, it is hoped to effect some improvement in the policing of Leixlip and the matter will be kept under review.
There was a substantial reduction in the level of indictable crime in the Lucan Garda sub-district last year and provisional figures for the first quarter of this year indicate a further improvement in the crime situation there. The downward trend in the crime rate is encouraging and I hope that this improvement can be maintained.