Vol. 458 No. 5
157 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Justice the consideration, if any, that is being given to a review of the decision to transfer the Louth-Meath Divisional Headquarters of the Garda Síochána from Dundalk to Drogheda, County Louth, in view of the recent large explosive finds and related activities of paramilitaries along the Border; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17349/95]
In February of this year I approved a proposal from the Commissioner to transfer the Garda divisional heaquarters for the Louth/Meath division from Dundalk to Drogheda. A new Garda station is being built in Drogheda at present as a divisional headquarters. The transfer will take place when the necessary work at Drogheda Garda station, which is currently in progress, is completed early next year.
The deployment of manpower and resources to individual areas is a matter for the Garda authorities. They inform me that there will be no reduction in the operational policy services in Dundalk or the Border areas within the Louth/Meath division as a result of the relocation of the divisional headquarters to Drogheda. The divisional officer is satisfied that the move is a necessary and logical administrative one. I believe that the relocation of the divisional headquarters in Drogheda will have the advantage of placing it nearer to all major population centres within the division and this will enhance the effectiveness of policing in the division as a whole.
