Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 11 Oct 1995

Vol. 456 No. 7

Written Answers. - Killybegs (Donegal) Garda Station.

Mary Coughlan

Question:

106 Miss Coughlan asked the Minister for Justice if she will establish a 24-hour Garda Station in Killybegs, County Donegal, as a matter of urgency in view of the fact that this is the premier port in Ireland, the fact of which has huge implications from a security point of view; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14597/95]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

The Garda authorities are responsible for the detailed allocation of Garda manpower to individual areas. They have informed me that the present opening hours of Killybegs station are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. When the station is unmanned a direct communication facility linked to Ballyshannon Garda station comes into operation. A "call forwarding" system is also in operation at Killybegs station where telephone calls to Killybegs station outside the opening hours are automatically put through to Ballyshannon station.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the current manpower strength of Killybegs is one sergeant and four gardaí and this has been the position for the past number of years. There is a patrol car allocated to the station and both foot and mobile patrols are carried out in the locality into the early hours of the morning. These patrols are augmented as required by the gardaí at Donegal station which is open on a 24 hour basis.

I am also informed by the Garda authorities that provisional crime figures for the first eight months of this year show a significant downward trend in the Killybegs Sub-District when compared to crimes reported in 1994. The Garda authorities also point out that the difficulty with extending the opening times of any Garda station is that it would absorb manpower on indoor administrative tasks which could be employed to better advantage on outdoor patrol and crime duties.

I understand from the Garda authorities that they have no plans at present to extend the opening hours of Killybegs Garda station. The Garda authorities report that they are satisfied that the current policing arrangements are adequate to meet the needs of the area but the position will be kept under review.