Tom Moffatt
Question:12 Dr. Moffatt asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí who have been redeployed, transferred or retired from duty from Border divisions from November 1995 to date. [5458/97]
Written Answers. - Garda Deployment.
The detailed deployment of Garda personnel to individual areas is a matter for the Garda authorities. They have informed me that four Garda divisions have responsibility for policing the Border area, namely, Donegal Division, Sligo/Leitrim Division, Cavan/Monaghan Division and Louth/ Meath Division.
I understand from the Garda authorities that the detailed information sought by the Deputy is not readily available and to obtain it would involve a considerable expenditure of Garda personnel time which could not be justified.
However, I can provide the Deputy with the strength of each of the aforementioned Garda divisions at 30 November 1995 and 31 January 1997. This information is set out in the following table. I should point out that the net overall position has remained unchanged for the period in question.
|
Division |
No. of Gardaí |
No. of Gardaí |
|
(all ranks) |
(all ranks) |
|
|
30/11/1995 |
31/1/1997 |
|
|
Donegal |
451 |
450 |
|
Sligo/Leitrim |
262 |
258 |
|
Cavan/Monaghan |
390 |
386 |
|
Louth/Meath |
475 |
484 |
Note: These figures do not include personnel on temporary assignment to Border Divisions for BSE duty.
The Garda authorities have assured me that the Garda personnel strengths in these divisions are monitored on a continuous basis to ensure that an optimum policing service is provided to the public and that, taking security considerations into account, they are satisfied that the present Garda strengths are adequate to ensure an effective police presence in the Border areas.