Vol. 451 No. 5
138 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Justice the plans, if any, she has to open a Garda station in the Raheny area of Dublin in view of the fact that the nearest Garda station is in Coolock; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6870/95]
As there is a Garda station already located in Raheny it is not clear from the question precisely what information the Deputy is trying to elicit. The Garda station in Raheny is a district headquarters and has a present strength of 61. The Garda authorities are satisfied that the policing arrangements for Raheny are adequate to meet the needs of the area. However, the position will be kept under review.
I am also informed by the Garda authorities that there are no plans to establish a Garda substation in the Raheny district. In fact, such a move could prove to be counter-productive. 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.
