Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 October 2005
152 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí and patrol cars available to or operating out of the Garda stations at Leixlip, Celbridge, Maynooth, Naas, Kilcock, Clane, Kill, Carbury, Robertstown and all other major towns and villages throughout County Kildare; if this service is adequate having regard to crime and demographic trends; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29976/05]
View answerI have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the number of gardaí and patrol cars available to, or operating out of, the Garda stations at Leixlip, Celbridge, Maynooth, Naas, Kilcock, Clane, Kill, Carbury, Robertstown and all other major towns and villages throughout County Kildare as at 12 October 2005 was as set out in the table.
|
Station |
Gardaí |
Patrol Cars |
|
Naas |
81 |
19 |
|
Celbridge |
18 |
2 |
|
Clane |
5 |
1 |
|
Maynooth |
15 |
1 |
|
Kill |
3 |
1 |
|
Kildare |
27 |
2 |
|
Newbridge |
32 |
3 |
|
Robertstown |
3 |
1 |
|
Kilcullen |
3 |
1 |
|
Carbury |
2 |
— |
|
Monasterevin |
3 |
1 |
|
Rathangan |
3 |
— |
|
Athy |
18 |
2 |
|
Castledermot |
2 |
— |
|
Ballytore |
1 |
— |
|
Kilcock |
5 |
— |
|
Leixlip |
26 |
2 |
|
Total |
247 |
36 |
Garda personnel assigned throughout the country, together with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy, are continually monitored and reviewed, taking account of demographic and crime trends. Such monitoring ensures that optimum use is made of Garda resources and the best possible Garda service is provided to the general public. Given current resources available, Garda management states that it is satisfied that the current policing resources are adequate to meet the policing needs of County Kildare.
With regard to Garda resources generally, the accelerated recruitment campaign to reach a record force strength of 14,000, in line with the commitment in An Agreed Programme for Government, is fully on target. This will lead to a combined strength, of both attested gardaí and recruits in training, of 14,000 by the end of 2006. The Garda Commissioner will now draw up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources and, in this context, the policing needs of County Kildare will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda regions throughout the country.
153 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if adequate patrol cars and gardaí are available on a nightly basis throughout the Dublin metropolitan areas and the greater Dublin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29977/05]
View answer154 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí available for patrol on foot or in vehicles on a nightly basis in the Dublin metropolitan area and in the surrounding counties within a 30 mile radius; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29978/05]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 154 together.
I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength, all ranks, of the six operational divisions and the Dublin metropolitan traffic corps, which form the Dublin metropolitan region, as at 17 October 2005 was 3,965. The personnel strengths of the eastern and south eastern regions, as at 17 October 2005 were 1,386, all ranks, and 977, all ranks, respectively.
I am advised that in addition to uniform patrols, gardaí from district detective units, divisional crime task force, drug units and divisional traffic units patrol the region referred to by the Deputy on a nightly basis and local management within the Dublin metropolitan region states that it is satisfied that adequate patrol cars and gardaí are available on a nightly basis to meet the current policing needs of the region.
For security and operational reasons it is not Garda policy to disclose the number of personnel on patrol in any particular area over a specific period of time. Garda personnel assigned 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 Garda service is provided to the general public.
Regarding Garda resources generally, the accelerated recruitment campaign to reach a record force strength of 14,000, in line with the commitment in the agreed programme for Government, is fully on target. This will lead to a combined strength, of both attested gardaí and recruits in training, of 14,000 by the end of 2006. The Garda Commissioner will now draw up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources, and in this context the needs of the Dublin metropolitan, eastern and south-eastern regions will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda regions throughout the country.
