Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 10 Feb 1994

Vol. 438 No. 6

Written Answers. - North County Kildare Garda Division.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

70 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the rapidly expanding population in North County Kildare, with particular reference to the towns of Maynooth, Leixlip, Celbridge and other such towns; the proposals, if any she has to introduce a new Garda division to service this area; whether sufficient gardaí already exist to meet the requirements of the growing population; her views on the expansion of facilities available to the gardaí in the area at present; if she will ensure that the public in each of the towns have ready access to Garda services; if such access is likely to be improved by the provision of extra facilities in Leixlip; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn)

I am informed by the Garda authorities that they have no plans to introduce a new Garda Division for the North County Kildare area. I gave the Deputy details of the policing arrangements for Leixlip, which forms part of the Southern Division of the Dublin Metropolitan Area, in my response to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 189 of 6 October, 1993 and No. 120 of 7 December, 1993 and the situation has not changed since then.

Both Maynooth and Celbridge Garda stations form part of the Carlow/Kildare Division. The current strength at Maynooth station is 1 sergeant, 6 gardaí and an additional probationer garda will be assigned there on 18 February, 1994. The current strength at Celbridge station is 2 sergeants and 9 gardaí. There is a patrol car assigned to both of these stations.

Both stations are open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. from Monday to Saturday and from 12 noon to 2 p.m. on Sundays. Outside these hours, regular foot and mobile patrols are carried out throughout the District covering Maynooth and Celbridge and callers can contact the Divisional Headquarters at Naas who will transmit the message immediately to the gardaí on patrol in the area. These areas are also patrolled on a regular basis by the Detective Branch and Traffic Corps from Naas. I am informed by the Garda authorities that a Special Crime Patrol was established by the Divisional Officer last year to combat the problem of travelling criminals, including Dublin-based criminal gangs. This unit operates throughout the Division, including the areas referred to in the question, at the hours of most need.

The Deputy will be aware of the comprehensive package of law and order measures which I announced on 14 December last to combat crime. These measures are designed to improve the effectiveness of the Garda Síochána in the fight against crime and will contribute significantly to the improvement of the police service to the public throughout the country as a whole.

The Garda authorities inform me that they are satisfied that the public in each of the towns mentioned in the question have ready access to Garda services and that the current policing arrangements make the optimum use of available manpower and resources. They are keeping the policing arrangements for North Kildare under continuing review.