Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 Jun 1991

Vol. 409 No. 4

Written Answers. - Moyross (Limerick) Policing.

Willie O'Dea

Question:

192 Mr. O'Dea asked the Minister for Justice if, in view of the fact that the Moyross area in Limerick has almost the same population as the town of Ennis, County Clare and in view of the crime statistics for that area, he will consider location a Garda station in the area.

Minister for Justice (Mr. Burke)

The Garda authorities are satisfied that the provision of a separate Garda station to serve the Moyross area would not be warranted. The difficulty with establishing additional Garda stations, apart from the high capital costs involved, is that manning them absorbs Garda manpower which can be deployed to better advantage on outdoor operational duties.

The Moyross area currently receives a 24 hour patrol service from the gardaí at Mayorstone station and the Divisional Headquarters at Henry Street. There are a number of policing initiatives, such as community policing and neighbourhood watch schemes, in operation in the area and the Garda authorities consider that the continuing allocation of resources to these initiatives represents a better approach to dealing with crime in Moyross than the provision of an extra Garda station.