Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 February 2004
200 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that only one car is in operation from Ballyfermot Garda station; and the steps which will be taken to ensure that more vehicles will be available to the station to ensure prompt response to the calls of local residents. [5446/04]
View answerI have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, that Ballyfermot Garda station is equipped with a uniformed patrol car and a uniformed patrol van on a 24-hour basis. The community policing unit in Ballyfermot is also in possession of a uniformed patrol car, which patrols the Ballyfermot area from morning time to the early hours of the next day. There are also two unmarked detective patrol cars in use, one until evening time and the other until early the following morning. In addition, the Ballyfermot drugs unit operates two unmarked patrol cars solely for the purpose of patrolling the area for drug abusers and dealers.
The DMR west divisional crime taskforce and divisional traffic unit also patrol the Ballyfermot area on a daily basis. A bicycle unit has recently been set up which operates two shifts over a sixteen hour period. Garda management in Ballyfermot Garda station is satisfied with the current level of patrolling by both marked and unmarked patrol cars.
