I propose to answer Questions Nos. 47, 78, 79 and 80 together.
The Garda station at Blanchardstown is not adequate to meet the long term needs of the gardaí in the area. The Office of Public Works are carrying out a feasibility study to determine whether or not the existing building could be extended through the acquisition of adjacent properties. If this course of action is found not to be feasible then other options, including the possibility of building a new station in the proposed Blanchardstown Town Centre development, will be considered. When work will commence will depend on the option chosen as well as overall priorities and the availability of finance.
The Garda authorities inform me that the manpower at Blanchardstown Garda station has increased by ten over the past two years, bringing it up to its present strength of 70. There are four mobile units attached to the station and the area is also covered by the Divisional Task Force, which is based at Santry. The Garda authorities consider that the policing arrangements for the Blanchardstown area are adequate to meet the policing needs of the area at present, but the question of assigning additional gardaí to the area will be kept under review. There are, however, no plans to make the station a district headquarters.
