Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 2 Oct 1996

Vol. 469 No. 3

Written Answers. - Border Gardaí on BSE Duties.

Cecilia Keaveney

Question:

172 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí currently stationed in each of the stations in counties Donegal, Leitrim, Cavan and Monaghan; and the proportion of each county's resources which are currently taken up on Border BSE duties. [17428/96]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

The Garda authorities are responsible for the detailed development of Garda personnel and resources to different areas. They have expressed concern, which I share, about supplying the kind of detailed information sought by the Deputy on the grounds of security and in the interests of crime prevention generally.

However, they have informed me that policing for the counties of Donegal, Leitrim, Cavan and Monaghan is provided by the Garda division of Donegal. Cavan / Monaghan and Sligo / Leitrim. The current strengths for all ranks of each of these divisions is as follows: Donegal division, 450; Cavan / Monaghan division, 395; and Sligo / Leitrim division, 262.

I understand from the Garda authorities that the number of gardaí of all ranks from these Garda divisions currently involved in the BSE operation is as follows: Donegal division, 166; Cavan/Monaghan division, 169; and Sligo/Leitrim division, 34. The deployment of Garda personnel on the BSE operation is being kept under constant review by the Garda authorities.