asked the Minister for Justice if his attention has been drawn to the serious incidents of vandalism and robberies, particularly against people who are living alone in the Mountmellick area of County Laois; if he will make available additional resources to deal with the problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Laois Crime Incidents.
71.
As I indicated in my reply to Question No. 71 on 13 December 1988, the Garda authorities are taking measures to deal with recent housebreaking offences in County Laois and I do not propose to go into the details of these measures.
As regards the Garda resources assigned to Mountmellick, the position is that the detailed deployment of Garda manpower to individual stations is a matter for the Garda authorities. They inform me that the current strength of one sergeant and five gardaí at Mountmellick station, supported by mobile units operating from the Divisional Headquaters at Portlaoise, is adequate to meet the present police needs of the area and that there are no proposals at present to allocate additional manpower to the station. The policing arrangements for Mountmellick are, however, being kept under review.