Vol. 511 No. 3
337 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will review the staffing levels at Tallaght Garda station; and if he will allocate the required resources in order that the station can be expanded and the divisional chief superintendent based there. [24453/99]
338 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the staffing levels at Tallaght Garda station; and the comparative figures for other stations covering a similar population base. [24454/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 337 and 338 together.
The detailed deployment of Garda personnel and resources to an individual area is a matter for the Garda authorities who have informed me that the personnel strength of Tallaght station, as of 19 November 1999, was 138 gardaí, all ranks. I am also informed that the exact accommodation requirements to facilitate the elevation of the station to divisional headquarters status are still under consideration. I am further informed that population figures alone do not determine the allocation of personnel to a particular station. Other variables such as crime figures, crime trends, geographical area, road traffic indicators etc. combine to determine the overall policing requirements of an area that must be addressed in the light of resources available to the commissioner at any given time.
