Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Apr 2000

Vol. 517 No. 6

Written Answers. - Garda Strength.

Seán Ryan

Question:

372 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí and the resources available to them, such as cars, motor bikes and CCTV in the Swords, Malahide and Balbriggan districts respectively in each of the years from 1994 to date; and the population of the area in each district in the same years. [10809/00]

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

I have asked the Garda authorities – who are responsible for the detailed allocation of Garda personnel to individual areas – for the particular information sought by the Deputy on the personnel strength of the Swords sub-district, the Malahide sub-district and the Balbriggan district for the years 1994 to 2000. As soon as this information is to hand, I will communicate further with the Deputy.

The number of cars and motorbikes available for the years 1994 to 2000 are set out in the following statistical table:

	Swords	Malahide	Balbriggan
1994
Cars	2	2	5
Motorbikes	1	1	0
1995
Cars	3	2	5
Motorbikes	1	1	0
1996
Cars	3	2	5
Motorbikes	1	1	0
1997
Cars	4	3	5
Motorbikes	0	0	0
1998
Cars	6	3	6
Motorbikes	0	0	0
1999
Cars	6	3	8
Motorbikes	0	0	0
2000
Cars	6	3	8
Motorbikes	0	0	0

I am informed by the Garda authorities that population figures are available only on a Garda district basis. Balbriggan district is part of the Louth/Meath division. The sub-districts of Swords and Malahide, together with the sub-district of Coolock make up the 'R' district in the Dublin metropolitan area. Figures based on the most recent census data available, 1996, show the following:

District	Population
Balbriggan District	43,197
‘R' District	106,252

There are no Garda CCTV systems in operation in the Swords and Malahide sub-districts or Balbriggan district.