Vol. 486 No. 1
797 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the scope, if any, that exists for increasing support in terms of manpower, facilities and resources in rural Border areas to assist in crime prevention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2111/98]
The Garda authorities are responsible for the detailed deployment of Garda personnel and resources to individual areas. They have informed me that the current Garda strength — all ranks — of the Garda divisions responsible for policing the Border areas as of 31 December 1997 is as follows: Donegal, 440; Cavan-Monaghan, 371; Sligo-Leitrim, 257; and Louth-Meath, 498.
The Garda authorities further inform me that the deployment of Garda resources throughout the Border areas is a matter which is continuously under review having regard to policing requirements and security risks at any given time. They add there is a crime prevention officer based in each of the four Border divisions. As in all areas, every opportunity is availed of to give crime prevention advice to the public throughout the Border regions through programmes like community alert schemes, neighbourhood watch schemes, residents groups and through any contact that individual members of the force may have with the public.
