Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 March 2005
359 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of Garda stations located in County Meath; the number of gardaí allocated to each of the Garda stations in each of the past five years; if he has plans to increase the allocation of gardaí to any of the Garda stations; if he proposed to introduce community policing throughout the county of Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7824/05]
View answerI have been informed by the Garda authorities who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the total number of Garda stations located in County Meath as at 7 March 2005 was 18. The personnel strength of each Garda station in County Meath as at 1 January in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 and as at 7 March 2005 was as follows:
|
Station |
01/01/01 |
01/01/02 |
01/01/03 |
01/01/04 |
01/01/05 |
7/03/05 |
|
Laytown |
7 |
8 |
7 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
|
Duleek |
4 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
|
Slane |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
|
Navan |
45 |
45 |
47 |
49 |
46 |
45 |
|
Kells |
32 |
33 |
31 |
34 |
31 |
31 |
|
Athboy |
5 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
|
Crossakiel |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Nobber |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
|
Oldcastle |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
|
Trim |
24 |
25 |
24 |
25 |
25 |
26 |
|
Enfield |
19 |
19 |
16 |
17 |
16 |
15 |
|
Ballivor |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
|
Summerhill |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Kilmessan |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Longwood |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Ashbourne |
38 |
36 |
37 |
37 |
40 |
39 |
|
Dunshaughlin |
11 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
10 |
10 |
|
Dunboyne |
16 |
16 |
15 |
13 |
12 |
12 |
I am further informed that community policing is in operation in Navan and Ashbourne, County Meath, and that local Garda management has no immediate plans to extend community policing in the county.
On Garda resources generally, I am, of course, very pleased 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 that regard 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 commissioner will now be drawing up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources. In this context, the needs of Garda stations in County Meath will be fully considered within the context of the needs of Garda stations throughout the country. Clearly, 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 also be possible to address other priorities, such as the need to increase very significantly the number of gardaí allocated to traffic duties as part of the new Garda traffic corps. I have already promised that the additional gardaí will not be put on administrative duties. They will be put directly into frontline, operational, high-visibility policing. They will have a real impact.
