Ned O'Keeffe
Question:260 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice if she will consider restoring a Garda station (details supplied) in County Cork to its original status so as to ensure that the station is manned 24 hours per day. [16251/95]
Written Answers. - Status of Garda Station.
I have been informed by the Garda authorities that since 9 October 1995 the station referred to in the question is open from 8 a.m. to 12 midnight daily. A telephone call diversion system and a radio system are in operation at the station whereby persons calling at or telephoning the station when it is unmanned are automatically put through to the district headquarters. Moreover, the district radio system allows for direct radio contact with both the patrol car and members on foot patrol with personal radios in the area referred to in the question.
The Garda authorities are satisfied that the reduction in opening hours at the station concerned has enhanced, rather than reduced, the effectiveness of operational policing in the area. The new arrangement ensures that the maximum number of gardaí are available for outdoor policing duties at night in the area instead of being confined to the station on largely administrative duties.
Michael Bell
Question:261 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Justice the number of bank accounts used by the Garda Síochana; the banks involved; whether all bank accounts which have State funds therein are made available for audit; the number of accounts which were audited by civilian members of staff in 1994 or by the Comptroller and Auditor General; the number of accounts which have not been audited since 1 January 1990; the precise instructions with regards to cheque signatories and the date of their last revision; the number of bank accounts in the Force in relation to which the cheque signatories are below the rank of superindentent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16255/95]
There are 116 bank accounts held by Garda Síochána with the following banks: AIB Bank, Bank of Ireland, Ulster Bank and National Irish Bank. These are current accounts under the control of the district officers (superintendent rank) and are known officially as public bank accounts. They facilitate the payment of local day to day expenditure through an imprest account and provide for the receipt of public moneys in respect of firearm certificates, weights and measures etc. Included in the above is a bank account operated by the parking fines office in O'Connell Street, Dublin to facilitate the collection of parking fines.
All of the above bank accounts are made available for audit. A total of 56 accounts were audited in 1994 by officers attached to my Department's internal audit unit. All of the 116 bank accounts held by the Garda Síochána have been audited since 1990. I am unable to say how many of these accounts have been audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General's office as his office does not come within my area of responsibility.
Instructions in relation to bank accounts held by the Garda Síochána are included in the Garda Síochána code which was last revised in 1994. This is an internal confidential Garda publication and contains very detailed instructions relating to all accounting procedures in the Garda Síochána including the operation of public bank accounts. These instructions are aimed at ensuring the safe custody and control of public funds in the Garda Síochána and specify that cheque signatories should be the district officer or an officer or inspector acting as a replacement for him. In all cases the instructions require that the finance officer in my Department is notified of the name of the officer or inspector authorised to operate the public bank account, giving two specimens of the signature of such officer or inspector.
I should also maintain that, in addition to the bank accounts already referred to, it is necessary from time to time to open accounts in countries where Garda contingents are serving on United Nations missions. These accounts are operated by the head of the contingent in accordance with the instructions contained in the Garda Síochána code. The transactions on these accounts are monitored by my Department's finance division. At present, there are three such accounts in operation in Cyprus, Western Sahara and Zagreb.