Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 May 2005
256 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if there will be cycle patrols operating from Irishtown Garda station in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16595/05]
View answerGarda authorities have informed me that the Garda mountain bike unit was introduced on a pilot basis on 5 June 2001 in the Tallaght and Raheny Garda districts of the Dublin metropolitan region, DMR. In February 2002 a review conducted by the Garda authorities found that the deployment of Garda personnel on mountain bikes was successful in tackling and responding to certain types of offences. Their mobility and versatility is recognised as a method of high-visibility crime prevention.
Since that time, the Garda mountain bike unit has been expanded both inside and outside the DMR. The total number of mountain bikes available to the Garda Síochána is 85, of which 55 are allocated to districts within the DMR and 30 are allocated to districts outside the DMR. Garda management is currently exploring the possibility of operating cycle patrols from Irishtown Garda station.
