Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Feb 2003

Vol. 560 No. 3

Written Answers. - Garda Deployment.

Joan Burton

Question:

372 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the amount of Garda resources, time and personnel devoted to the administration and collection of fines; the amount which is carried out by civilian staff working for the Garda Síochána; the total cost of these operations; and the amount which has been collected in fines for each year from 1997 to date. [2581/03]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the detailed breakdown requested in relation to resources devoted to the administration and collection of fines is not readily available and could only be obtained by the expenditure of a disproportionate amount of Garda time and resources. I will communicate separately with the Deputy on the amounts collected in fines since 1997.

Joan Burton

Question:

373 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí serving at Blanchardstown Garda station for each year from 1997 to date; and the numbers of gardaí assigned on a full-time basis to community policing, specifically the Dublin 15 area, specialist units, specifically the drugs unit, and administrative and managerial duties. [2582/03]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I am informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources including personnel, that the personnel strength – all ranks – of Blanchardstown Garda station as at 31 December each year from 1997 to 2002 and currently is as set out in the following table:

Year	Strength
1997	89
1998	94
1999	104
2000	106
2001	124
2002	132
31/01/2003	130

This represents an increase of 41 or 46% since 31 December 1997. The detailed statistical information sought in respect of community policing, specialist units, specifically the drugs unit, and administrative and managerial duties, is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy directly in due course.

Joan Burton

Question:

374 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí assigned to each Garda station in the greater Dublin area from 1997 to date; and the number of such gardaí assigned at each such station on a full-time basis to community policing and specialist units, such as the drugs unit. [2583/03]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I have been informed by the Garda authorities who are responsible for the detailed allocation of personnel and resources that the number of personnel – all ranks – assigned to each Garda station in the Dublin metropolitan region as at the 31 December each year from 1997 to 2002 and currently is as set out in the following table:

	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	31/01/2003
Pearse St.	231	215	215	221	216	214	210
Harcourt Terrace	91	93	84	84	80	79	76
Kevin Street	124	122	113	116	117	117	116
Kilmainham	75	87	101	97	76	76	79
Donnybrook	126	129	126	120	116	114	115
Irishtown	60	59	57	59	54	49	52
Crumlin	82	85	83	84	86	88	88
Sundrive Rd.	54	57	52	56	58	57	56
Rathfarnham	63	57	63	63	67	74	71
Tallaght	133	139	142	159	159	159	160
Rathmines	90	90	76	79	81	67	66
Terenure	49	46	60	67	66	84	82
Santry	93	87	78	77	83	91	83
Whitehall	45	42	38	43	40	40	41

	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	31/01/2003
Ballymun	57	57	56	63	64	64	65
Dublin Airport	50	48	56	57	58	19	20
Coolock	93	89	93	89	85	84	86
Malahide	43	39	39	44	43	43	42
Swords	45	44	49	52	54	57	55
Raheny	64	59	61	63	61	64	62
Clontarf	57	59	56	56	60	64	62
Howth	30	34	35	37	39	41	41
Blanchardstown	89	94	104	106	124	132	130
Cabra	82	76	80	83	76	76	75
Finglas	76	83	90	88	78	78	77
Lucan	58	61	57	67	75	73	72
Leixlip	11	16	19	21	18	24	24
Ballyfermot	72	56	66	77	75	73	73
Clondalkin	56	51	62	63	66	82	79
Ronanstown	58	65	63	65	66	72	72
Rathcoole		17	19	19	23	21	23
Store Street	231	227	234	233	228	225	221
Fines Office	9	8	8	8	7	8	8
Fitzgibbon Street	120	118	114	113	112	116	108
Mountjoy	78	84	80	75	77	82	80
Bridewell	156	157	167	167	155	157	156
Dún Laoghaire	109	110	104	107	109	106	104
Dalkey	27	23	23	23	23	29	27
Kill-O-Grange	35	35	38	36	33	36	38
Cabinteeley	42	42	46	49	41	39	40
Bray	76	74	76	77	77	79	77
Enniskerry	6	7	7	6	6	5	5
Shankill	50	48	53	53	48	53	54
Greystones	28	28	28	28	26	28	30
Blackrock	71	75	75	75	74	66	69
Dundrum	62	57	51	53	62	69	63
Stepaside	40	40	42	42	37	36	36

The detailed statistical information sought in respect of numbers of such gardaí assigned at each such station on a full-time basis to community policing and specialist units, such as the drugs unit, is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy directly in due course.

Pat Breen

Question:

375 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason a Garda sergeant has not been appointed to Corofin Garda station, Corofin, County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2608/03]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I am informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of personnel and resources, that the current personnel strength of Corofin Garda station, County Clare is one garda. This garda reports to the district headquarters in Ennistymon. Local Garda management is satisfied that the current personnel strength of Corofin Garda station is adequate to meet the present policing needs of the area. I am further informed that the situation will be kept under review and when additional personnel next becomes available the needs of Corofin Garda station will be fully considered within the context of the overall needs of Garda stations throughout the country.