I proposed to take Questions Nos. 7, 68 and 82 together.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the decision to move the Louth/Meath Divisional Headquarters from Drogheda to Dundalk in May 1989 was taken for Garda operational reasons and was not connected in any way with an agreement at the Anglo-Irish Conference as suggested by the Deputy. The decision to transfer the Divisional Headquarters to Dundalk involved the relocation of one chief superintendent and three other members who were engaged in administrative duties at Drogheda. This has not led to a reduction in operational policing services provided in the Drogheda area.
In fact a number of sections which would normally be attached to a Divisional Headquarters continue to be based at Drogheda station, including the special traffic corps, PSV section, crime prevention unit and the radio technicians.
The Garda authorities are aware that there has been an increase in the crime level in the Drogheda area in recent years but they do not consider that this is related to the location of the Divisional Headquarters and have no plans to move the Divisional Headquarters back to Drogheda.
The Garda authorities are taking a number of steps to deal with the crime problem in Drogheda and throughout the division. This includes the deployment of more gardaí in the division to the areas which have the greatest need. A special unit of one sergeant and three gardaí has been established which operates as a mobile unit throughout the division, setting up checkpoints and carrying our crime prevention patrols. These are in addition to the normal patrols carried out by the uniformed and plain clothes gardaí throughout the division.
A special drugs unit was recently established within the division to combat drug related offences in the area. This unit consists of one sergeant and seven gardaí, three of whom are based in Drogheda. The Superintendent at Drogheda has established special community projects in the Drogheda area which are concerned with the needs of the elderly, women's groups, young people and neighbourhood watch groups. The divisional officer has also initiated a "Crime-Time" programme on LM/FM radio, which will be broadcast on a weekly basis. This will increased public awareness of the fight against crime in the division and will encourage the public to assist the Garda by using the Garda confidential telephone number.
Finally, an operational planning office has been established under the control of the divisional officer. Its purpose is to monitor trends in crime throughout the division, to ensure that the most effective strategies are being used to combat crime and to ensure that the available manpower and resources are used to the best possible advantage.
The current manpower of Drogheda Garda station is 70. I am informed that three members were transferred from the Drogheda sub-district on promotion and that the Garda authorities intend to replace them as soon as possible in the normal way.
The Garda authorities believe that the actions they are taking will lead to a decrease in crime in the Drogheda area and the Louth-Meath Division. I am glad that provisional data show there has been a reduction in the overall level of crime in the Louth-Meath Division in the current year. The Garda authorities will continue to monitor the situation closely and will make adjustments, where necessary, in their strategies to fight crime in the Drogheda area.
