Vol. 444 No. 2
26 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice when she will sanction a new Garda station for Donaghmede, Dublin 13, in view of the large local population and the low number of gardaí in the constituency of Dublin North East.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the existing Garda office in Donaghmede is providing a satisfactory service to the local community and, in the circumstances, there are no proposals to change this arrangement. The Garda office, which is two miles from Coolock station, has been recently relocated from the rear entrance of the Donaghmede Shopping Centre to a location within the centre. The opening hours for the office are 10 a.m.-12 noon, 2.30 p.m.-4 p.m. and from 7 p.m.-8 p.m., Monday to Saturday inclusive. There are currently three community gardaí allocated to the Donaghmede area. They are responsible for manning the Garda office and also carry out community policing duties in the area.
The Donaghmede area is regularly patrolled by foot and mobile units from Coolock Garda station, with back-up support from the Regional Crime Task Force. In addition, mobile units from the Special Detective Unit, Drugs Squad and other specialist units patrol the Donaghmede area on a regular basis.
The difficulty with opening a new Garda station, apart from the capital cost involved, is that it would absorb manpower which could be better used on outdoor patrol duties. The essential point the Garda authorities make is that it is far better to maximise the number of gardaí available for outdoor patrol and crime duties rather than tie up manpower indoors in manning a new Garda station and taking up the additional burden of administrative work which this would inevitably involve.
The current strength at Coolock Garda station is 96. This includes one sergeant and nine gardaí assigned to community policing duties. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the provisional figures for indictable crime to date in 1994 in the Donaghmede area indicate that there will be a reduction as against the figures for 1993. The policing arrangements for the Donaghmede area are being kept under continuing review and any changes considered necessary will be made.
