Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 25 Mar 1999

Vol. 502 No. 5

Written Answers. - Garda Deployment.

Emmet Stagg

Question:

75 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the worst civilian-garda ratio is to be found in the Carlow and Kildare division; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that crime increased in this divisional area by 8 per cent in 1997 and a further 4 per cent in 1998; the plans, if any, he has to correct this anomaly by transferring additional gardaí into this divisional area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8662/99]

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

The detailed deployment of Garda personnel to an individual area is a matter for the Garda authorities who have informed me that the current personnel strength for the Carlow/Kildare division is 303 – all ranks. They also inform me that the Carlow/Kildare division has a population/garda ratio of 1:563 which shows a marginal decrease since 31 March 1997 when the population/garda ratio was 1:597.

The crime figures for Carlow/Kildare division are as follows:

Year ending	Committed	Detected
*31/12/95	2,840	1,179
*31/12/96	3,161	1,358
*31/12/97	3,422	1,631
*31/12/98	3,365	1,556

*These figures are provisional and do not include Rathcoole sub-district.

The Garda authorities also inform me that Rathcoole Garda sub-district was transferred from the Carlow-Kildare Garda division to the Dublin metropolitan area west Garda division in March 1998.

I am also informed by the Garda authorities that crime figures are monitored on an ongoing basis, with resources deployed where necessary to combat changing trends.

I am further informed that two probationer gardaí will be allocated to the Carlow/Kildare division with effect from 1 April 1999. The situation will continue to be monitored/reviewed and when additional personnel next become available the needs of the Carlow/Kildare division will be fully considered in the overall context of the needs of other divisions throughout the country.