Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 24 Apr 1991

Vol. 407 No. 4

Written Answers. - Westmeath Garda Numbers.

Paul McGrath

Question:

78 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Justice the Garda numbers in County Westmeath by rank for the years 1980, 1985 and 1990; the number of current vacanies at Garda stations in County Westmeath; and the plans he has to halt the rising crime rate in provincial towns.

Minister for Justice (Mr. Burke):

The total Garda Síochána strength assigned to stations in County Westmeath on 31 December in each of the years 1980, 1985 and 1990 is given in the following table.

Strength on 31 December

Rank	1980	1985	1990
C/Supt	1	1	1
Supt.	2	2	2
Inspector	2	2	2
Sergeant	27	28	27
Garda	114	139	139

The number of gardaí assigned to individual stations is not fixed and the Garda authorities adjust station strengths on an on-going basis having regard to available resources, local circumstances and other demands on Garda services. They inform me that the current overall strength assigned to stations in County Westmeath, which includes two additional sergeants assigned to Mullingar station today, is the maximum that can be provided there at present but that the situation is being kept under continuing review.

As regards measures to deal with crime in provincial towns, I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos.20 and 72 on 27 November 1990 in which I indicated that each garda divisional officer has prepared a programme of measures to address crime in his division. These programmes are currently being implemented and I am confident that the approaches being adopted to meet the varying needs of individual divisions will make a very significant contribution to tackling crime.