Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 Oct 2001

Vol. 541 No. 4

Written Answers. - Garda Deployment.

Tom Enright

Question:

416 Mr. Enright asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí assigned to all of the garda stations in County Offaly; the comparisons for each of the past five years; and if he has satisfied himself that there are adequate gardaí available in all of these stations. [23138/01]

Tom Enright

Question:

417 Mr. Enright asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí assigned to all of the garda stations in County Laois; the comparisons for each of the past five years; and if he has satisfied himself that there are adequate gardaí available in all of these stations. [23139/01]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 416 and 417 together.

I am informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of personnel and resources to individual areas, that the personnel strength – all ranks – of each Garda district in the division of Laois/Offaly as at 31 December 1997 to 2000, inclusive, and currently is as follows:

District	1997	1998	1999	2000	1/10/01
Portlaoise	128	128	125	124	126
Abbeyleix	37	38	36	36	38
Birr	44	48	48	47	45
Tullamore	65	67	66	67	72

The Garda authorities also inform me that the Garda divisional and district boundaries do not correlate to county and town boundaries. Garda personnel assigned to the division of Laois/

Offaly, together with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy, is continually monitored and reviewed. Such monitoring ensures that optimum use is made of Garda resources, and the best possible Garda service is provided to the general public.

The situation will be kept under review and when additional personnel next become available the needs of the division of Laois/Offaly will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda districts throughout the country.