Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 December 2004
272 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform which Garda stations in the Roscommon/east Galway and the Sligo/Leitrim divisions have a PULSE computer; the plans he has to extend access to the system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32380/04]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy regarding the availability of PULSE in the Roscommon and east Galway division and the Sligo and Leitrim Division is as follows: Roscommon-east Galway: Roscommon, Ballinasloe, Boyle, Castlerea and Tuam. I am informed by the Garda authorities that it is planned to expand the PULSE system to Mountbellew Garda station as part of the next expansion of the PULSE system. Sligo-Leitrim: Sligo, Ballymote, Carrick-on-Shannon and Manorhamiltion. I am informed by the Garda authorities that it is planned to expand the PULSE system to Mohill Garda station as part of the next expansion of the PULSE system.
Further extensions to the PULSE system to additional Garda stations will be considered in the context of the Garda information and communications technology strategy currently under preparation by the Garda Síochána.
273 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the Garda stations in the Roscommon and east Galway and Sligo and Leitrim divisions which are manned on a daily basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32381/04]
View answerI have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that there were 246 personnel of all ranks in the Roscommon and east Galway division on 6 December 2004. I am further informed that there are 37 Garda stations in the Roscommon and east Galway division. These are incorporated into five Garda districts. The district headquarters stations, which are at Roscommon, Ballinasloe, Boyle, Castlerea and Tuam, are manned on a 24 hour daily basis.
All remaining Garda stations are manned and opened at varying times on different days when personnel attached to those stations are on rostered working days. The only exception to this is Mountbellew Garda station, which forms part of a community policing initiative. The station is opened Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each week and on Saturdays and Sundays at times determined by personnel working arrangements.
With regard to the Sligo and Leitrim Division, there were 246 personnel of all ranks on 6 December 2004. There are 28 Garda stations in the Sligo and Leitrim division. These are incorporated into four Garda districts. The district headquarters stations, which are at Sligo, Ballymote, Manorhamilton and Carrick-On-Shannon are manned on a 24 hour daily basis. All remaining Garda stations within the division are manned and open normally from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on specified days.
I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that there were 64 personnel of all ranks in Cabra Garda station on 3 December 2004. The centre referred to by the Deputy consists of seven units with parking spaces available to the public. Local Garda management is satisfied that the area receives adequate attention through ongoing and regular patrols from Cabra Garda station.
I am very pleased to say that the Government has approved my proposal to increase the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 members on a phased basis, in line with the commitment in An Agreed Programme for Government. This is a key commitment in the programme for Government and its implementation will significantly strengthen the operational capacity of the force. The Garda Commissioner will now draw up plans on how best to distribute and manage these resources. The additional resources will be targeted at the areas of greatest need, as is envisaged in the programme for Government. The programme identifies areas with a significant drugs problem and a large number of public order offences, but it will be possible to address other priorities as well, such as the need to very significantly increase the number of gardaí allocated to traffic duties as part of the new Garda traffic corps. The additional gardaí will not be put on administrative duties. They will be put directly into frontline, operational, high-visibility policing and they will have a real impact.
For the next three years, there will be an annual intake of almost 1,100 new recruits. The advertisement campaign for this first tranche of 1,100 recruits was launched on Thursday 25 November 2004.
