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Garda Strength.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 December 2004

Wednesday, 15 December 2004

Questions (182)

Olwyn Enright

Question:

196 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will meet with a deputation from Mountmellick Town Council to discuss the issue of Garda numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33658/04]

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Written answers

I have been informed by Garda authorities that the personnel strength of Mountmellick Garda station is five, all ranks. The station is opened from Monday to Saturday between 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. When not open PACB, public access call box, and call diversion systems are in operation and linked to the district headquarters in Portlaoise. I am also advised that the district officer at Portlaoise meets with members of Mountmellick Town Council on an ongoing basis.

Resources are augmented from within the district and division as required. The area is also patrolled by the district detective unit and the divisional traffic unit. The district detective unit at Portlaoise also assists in the investigation of serious crime. Local Garda management is satisfied that the current strength of Mountmellick Garda station is adequate to meet the policing needs of the area. I will be responding shortly to correspondence from members of Mountmellick Town Council on these issues.

In relation to Garda resources generally, I am, of course, very pleased 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 An Agreed Programme for Government commitment in this regard. This is a key commitment in the programme for Government, and its implementation will significantly strengthen the operational capacity of the force.

The commissioner will now be drawing up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources. Garda personnel deployments throughout the country, together with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy are continually monitored and reviewed. Such monitoring ensures that optimum use is made of Garda resources, and the best possible service is provided to the public. In this context, the needs of Mountmellick Garda station will be fully considered within the context of the needs of Garda divisions throughout the country. Clearly, of course, the additional resources will be targeted at the areas of greatest need, as is envisaged in the programme for Government. The programme identifies, in particular, 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. One thing I have already promised is that the additional gardaí will not be put on administrative duties. They will be put directly into front-line, operational, high-visibility policing. They will have a real impact.

In each of the next three years there will be an intake of almost 1,100 new recruits. The advertisement campaign for this first trench of 1,100 recruits was launched on Thursday, 25 November 2004.

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