Vol. 513 No. 6
398 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the way in which catchment areas for Garda stations are decided; the criteria which apply; if garda to population ratios apply; if garda to reported crime ratios apply; if garda response times to public calls are considered; if such ratios are published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3426/00]
The position is that changes to subdistrict and district boundaries are made by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform pursuant to recommendations from the Commissioner of The Garda Sochána in response to ongoing policing requirements of an area.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that the criteria that are considered when recommending a change in an area would include the following population; geographical area; crime trends; road traffic variables and deprivation indicators. The number of indictable offences broken down by Garda division is published in the Garda annual report. The ratio of gardaí to population or to crimes in particular areas is not routinely published. Garda response times are being looked at by the Garda national quality service bureau generally but response times are not normally a direct determining factor in deciding on district or sub-district boundaries.
399 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to residents concerns regarding the capacity of Finglas Garda station to meet its service to the public; if he will provide details of the garda to population and garda to reported crime ratios for Finglas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3427/00]
The detailed deployment of Garda personnel to individual areas is a matter for the Garda authorities who have informed me that the current personnel strength of Finglas Garda station as of 4 February 2000 is 91 – all ranks.
I am also informed that the current population of Finglas subdistrict is estimated at 40,000. Provisional crime figures for 1999 indicate that a total of 560 crimes were reported at Finglas compared to 925 in 1998. The number of crimes detected in the same period were 197 and 254 respectively – representing an increase in the detection rate from 27% in 1998 to 35% in 1999.
I am further informed that the Garda population ratio stands at one Garda per 440 persons and that the Garda reported crime ratio for 1999 provisionally stands at one Garda per 6.15 crimes reported.
400 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the lack of facilities at Finglas Garda station to store retrieved cars; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that this is seriously undermining Garda efforts against joy-riding; if he will undertake to provide better facilities at the station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3428/00]
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the procedure in place at Finglas Garda station in relation for the recovery of stolen cars, is that all cars that can be driven are brought back to Finglas Garda station where they are returned to their owners in a matter of hours. Cars that cannot be driven are towed to a secure compound where their owners can collect them.
I have been assured by the Garda authorities that they are satisfied with the storage facilities at Finglas Garda station. Also, I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 190 of 2 February 2000 and restate that any requests from the Garda authorities for additional storage facilities will, of course, be given full consideration by my Department.
In relation to joy-riding, I have been assured by the Garda authorities that every effort is being made by the gardaí to curb this offence.
