Vol. 481 No. 1
225 Mr. Roche asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will undertake an immediate examination of the possibility of establishing a full Garda station in Kilcoole, County Wicklow, a rapidly growing town which does not currently have a Garda station. [15611/97]
: The detailed deployment of Garda personnel and resources to individual areas is a matter for the Garda authorities. They have informed me that Kilcoole is policed by the gardaí assigned to Greystones Garda station who carry out regular patrols of the area and are assisted as required by members of the divisional task force unit and the divisional drugs unit. I also understand that there is a community garda assigned to the Kilcoole area on a full-time basis.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that a garda office has been in operation in the Eastern Health Board building, Main Street, Kilcoole since 17 June 1997. The office is open to the public from 7.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. Monday to Friday and from 10.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. on Saturdays.
The Garda authorities report that they are satisfied that the policing arrangements currently in place in Kilcoole are adequate to meet the policing needs of the area and that they have no plans at present to establish a Garda station in Kilcoole. However, they have assured me that the situation will be kept under continual review to ensure that an effective Garda service in the area is maintained.
