I wish to share my time with my constituency colleague, Deputy McGahon.
Adjournment Debate. - Louth Garda Divisional Headquarters.
I am sure that is satisfactory and agreed.
Thank you for allowing me to raise this matter. Following reports that a decision was about to be made to transfer the divisional headquarters from Dundalk to Drogheda I tabled a question last week. Unfortunately, the wrong decisons was made. This is the second time in five years that the divisional headquarters has been transferred. In 1989 it was transferred to Dundalk mainly for operational reasons. I understand that at that time strong representations were made by the British authorities who could not understand that the divisional headquarters was not located in the largest town along the border. The Government accepted this view and made the right decision.
The divisional headquarters is now being transferred to Drogheda mainly for administrative reasons. I have heard it said that this makes sense in terms of its geographical location. Why does it make sense now? A different view was adopted in 1989. I have also heard it said that because of the evolving peace process there is no longer any necessity to have the divisional headquarters located on the Border. I find this strange and if that is the case, it is premature to say the least. Today I received telephone calls from a number of constituents who, apparently——
Gardaí?
No; the Deputy knows some of them. They come from the Deputy's area in Ravensdale. Apparently, the RUC and some British Army helicopters entered the State at Ravensdale. I do not know how the Minister will be able to justify this game of musical chairs in transferring what is a very prestigious office. Is it being transferred for reasons of convenience? Has it anything to do with the fact — I say this jocosely — that the Minister comes from north County Dublin and might like a divisional headquarters located nearby?
I do not represent either Dundalk or Drogheda.
The wrong decision has been made. In early November last before the fall of the last Government I was made aware by a number of gardaí that they understood that moves were afoot. When I raised the matter with the then Minister for Justice, Deputy Geoghegan-Quinn, she informed me that there was no such proposal and that if it was decided to make such a proposal she would take my views on the matter into account. Did the present Minister for Justice, Deputy Owen, take the views of the Oireachtas Members for that constituency, including the man who will speak after me, into account? It is only fair that their views should be taken into account.
The Deputy did not say if the previous Minister for Justice would have done anything.
I thank my colleague for sharing his time with me. We are at one in protesting at the decision to transfer the divisional headquarters from the county town of Dundalk to Drogheda. Each year the crime rate in Dundalk is at least 30 per cent higher than in Drogheda. That will continue to be the position given its proxmity to the Border. As the pickings become leaner in the North perhaps the rate of cross-Border crime will increase.
The decision to transfer the divisional headquarters from a town which has the highest crime rate in the country after Dublin, Cork and Limerick defies logic. Is it being transferred for the convenience of high ranking members of the Garda Síochána? Dundalk has also suffered grievously from terrorist activity which may recur in the future. The crime rate in the town is unacceptable. I draw particular attention to the terrible road statistics in County Louth, the smallest county in Ireland. Every year it heads the list of road fatalities. Only last week six young people lost their lives. I underline the need for a highway patrol on the Newry road. That aspect of police activity is totally neglected in our county.
I accept the Minister will say the transfer of the headquarters is a bureaucratic necessity and, while I am thankful to Deputy Ahern for sharing his time with me, I must suggest that had he been the Minister for Justice, this bureaucratic decision would have been taken.
Never.
This is a psychological loss to the people of Dundalk who must endure an unacceptable level of crime.
I am glad to have this opportunity to clarify the position regarding the proposed transfer of the Divisional Headquarters for the Louth/Meath Division from Dundalk to Drogheda, and I thank Deputies Ahern and McGahon for raising this matter this evening.
As I outlined in my reply to a parliamentary question from Deputy Ahern yesterday, I recently approved a proposal from the Garda Commissioner to transfer the Garda Divisional Headquarters of the Louth/Meath Division from Dundalk to Drogheda and in the light of the Deputy's remarks I will outline the background to this matter.
As I said in my reply to the parliamentary question, a new Garda station, which was approved by the former Minister for Justice is being built in Drogheda at present and it makes sense, given the new facilities being provided, that it should become the Divisional Headquarters. There are many other convincing reasons why the Divisional Headquarters should be located at Drogheda and those were outlined by the Garda Commissioner when he put the proposal to me for approval. For example, a number of units normally associated with a Divisional Headquarters did not move to Dundalk in the first place. These include crime prevention and community relations; public service vehicles inspectors; telecommunications, and the traffic corps.
Under the present arrangement the Divisional Headquarters in Dundalk does not have ready access to these units. Dundalk is located geographically at the north east corner of the division and is over 60 miles from the furthest point in the division. Drogheda is a much more central location within the division both geographical and in terms of proximity to all the major population centres within the division. In the circumstances, the Commissioner is satisfied, and I agree with him, that it makes good operational sense to transfer the Divisional Headquarters back to Drogheda.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the relocation of the Divisional Headquarters at Drogheda will involve the transfer of one chief superintendent, three other members of the Force engaged in administrative duties and two clerical assistants. There will be no reduction in the operational policing services provided in the Dundalk area. At present there are 66 members of the Force assigned to Drogheda Garda Station and 98 members to Dundalk Garda Station.
As I have said work is underway on a new station at Drogheda and I expect it will be completed in the latter half of this year. I will invite the two Deputies to its opening. The transfer of the Divisional Headquarters from Dundalk to Drogheda will take place at that stage.
I should add that accommodation facilities at Dundalk are inadequate and cramped with portacabins having to be used to ease accommodation pressures and it is intended that the Garda housing officer and an official from my Department will inspect Dundalk Garda station and consult with local Garda management to establish what its accommodation requirements are as a District Headquarters.