Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 26 Feb 1997

Vol. 475 No. 5

Written Answers - Garda Deployment.

Mildred Fox

Question:

175 Ms M. Fox asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the desecration of Hillside Evangelical Church, Greystones, County Wicklow on Saturday, 15 February 1997; her views on whether one patrol car, is adequate in a town the size of Greystones; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5335/97]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the incident referred to by the Deputy took place between 10 p.m. on 15 February 1997 and 10 a.m. the following morning. I understand that the premises was burgled and that several windows were damaged in the process. The Garda authorities have informed me that their investigation into this incident is ongoing. However, to date no person has been made amenable for the crime, nor has the stolen property been recovered.

The detailed deployment of Garda resources to individual areas is a matter for the Garda authorities. They have informed me that there are four official vehicles allocated to Greystones Garda station consisting of one marked patrol car, one unmarked patrol car, one community policing vehicle and one motor cycle. In addition to this, mobile patrols in the sub-district are augmented, as required, by the divisional crime task force unit based at Shankhill, the divisional drugs unit based on Dún Laoghaire and by the district drugs unit based at Bray. The Garda authorities have informed me that they are satisfied that the current allocation of vehicles to Greystones Garda station is adequate to meet the present policing needs of the area. However, the situation will be kept under continuous review and adjustments will be made as necessary.