Seamus Kirk
Question:204 Mr. Kirk asked the Minister for Justice if she intends to restore or retain the Garda Divisional Headquarters for the Louth-Meath area in Dundalk, County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5573/96]
Written Answers. - Louth-Meath Garda Headquarters.
In February 1995 I approved a proposal from the Garda Commissioner to transfer the Garda Divisional Headquarters for the Louth-Meath Division from Dundalk to Drogheda. A new Garda Station is being built in Drogheda at present as a divisional headquarters and it is proposed to proceed with the transfer to Drogheda in the near future.
The Garda authorities are responsible for the deployment of personnel and resources to individual areas. They inform me that they are satisfied that the move is a necessary and logical administrative one. I believe that the relocation of the divisional headquarters to 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. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the move which is to take place will have no effect on policing in Dundalk, nor the Border area which it patrols.