Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 13 Oct 1998

Vol. 495 No. 1

Written Answers. - Garda Deployment.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

367 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the proposals, if any, he has to improve the Garda numbers in the Waterford and Kilkenny division; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19560/98]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

The detailed deployment of Garda personnel to individual areas is a matter for the Garda authorities. They have informed me that the current personnel strength for the Waterford/Kilkenny Garda division is as outlined hereunder:

Date	Strength (all ranks)
31/12/96	297
31/12/97	307
12/10/98	323

It can be seen from these figures that the staffing strength of the Waterford/Kilkenny Garda division has risen substantially in the recent past. The Garda authorities have also informed me that the staffing situation in the district will continue to kept under review and that each time additional personnel become available for allocation the needs of the division will be fully considered in the overall context of the needs of other Garda divisions throughout the country.