Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 July 2006
587 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans he has to provide a full time Garda in Dunlavin Garda Station, County Wicklow; the plans he has to make additional Garda resources available in Dunlavin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26025/06]
View answerI have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of An Garda Síochána increased to a record 12,641 (all ranks) on Thursday 8 June with the attestation of 273 new members. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June 1997 and represents an increase of 1,939 (or 18.1%) in the personnel strength of the Force during that period.
I have been further informed by the Garda authorities that Dunlavin Garda Station forms part of the Baltinglass Garda District. Baltinglass Garda District is part of the Community Policing Initiative. Under this system, the Baltinglass District has three separate area headquarters, which govern Sub-District stations within their administrative area. Baltinglass Station is the area headquarters for Dunlavin, Donard and Ballytore Garda Stations.
The personnel strength of each Garda Station in the Baltinglass administrative area as at 3 of July, 2006 was as set out in the following table:
|
Station |
as at 3/7/2006 |
|
Baltinglass |
24 |
|
Ballytore |
1 |
|
Donard |
1 |
|
Dunlavin |
1 |
Dunlavin Garda Station is open to the public from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. daily. When not open P.A.C.B. (Public Access Call Box) and call diversions systems are in operation to the District headquarters at Baltinglass Garda Station which is open to the public on a 24-hour basis.
Resources are augmented within the Division/District as required. The area is also patrolled by the Divisional Traffic Unit and the District Detective Unit.
Local Garda Management are satisfied that the resources currently allocated to the Baltinglass administrative area are adequate to meet the present policing needs of the area.
It is the responsibility of Garda management to allocate personnel to and within Divisions on a priority basis in accordance with the requirements of different areas. These personnel allocations are determined by a number of factors including demographics, crime trends, administrative functions and other operational policing needs. Such allocations are continually monitored and reviewed along with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy. This ensures that optimum use is made of Garda resources, and that the best possible service is provided to the public.
I should add that the current recruitment drive to increase the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 members, 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 this year. The first group of newly attested Gardaí under this accelerated recruitment programme came on stream in March and the second such group did so on the 8th of June. Further tranches of approximately 275 newly attested Gardaí will follow every 90 days thereafter until the programme is complete. The Garda Commissioner will now be drawing up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources, and in this context the needs of Dunlavin Garda Station will be given the fullest consideration.
