Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 May 1997

Vol. 478 No. 7

Written Answers - Garda Stations.

Mary Wallace

Question:

192 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Justice the reason the "Green Man" at Dunboyne Garda station, County Meath, puts the caller on to the answering machine at Dunboyne which tells the caller to ring Trim Garda station rather than putting the caller automatically through to Trim; if it can be arranged for the Dunboyne "Green Man" to have direct links with Trim on a 24-hour basis; if the Dunboyne Garda station telephone number could also be connected directly to Trim Garda station and not to an answering machine at Dunboyne. [12209/97]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

The Garda authorities inform me that the position in relation to the "Green Man" and telephone facilities at Dunboyne Garda station is as follows.

The "Green Man" at Dunboyne Garda station operates over the radio system, in similar fashion to similar units in all other Garda sub-district stations.

The "Green Man" is not connected to the telephone system or an answering machine. The "Green Man" is provided to enable a direct link with Trim over the Garda radio system when Dunboyne is closed.

At present the telephone at Dunboyne is connected to an answering machine when the station is unattended. However, arrangements are being made with Telecom Éireann to provide "Phoneplus" call diversion at Dunboyne enabling calls to the station to be automatically diverted to Trim during closed hours. This will require a change of telephone number at Dunboyne Garda station.