I propose to take Questions Nos. 891 and 892 together.
I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that as of 31 August 2008, the latest date for which figures are readily available, the personnel strength of the Carlow/Kildare Division was 364 broken down as follows:
Station
|
Station Strength
|
Naas
|
100
|
Celbridge
|
22
|
Clane
|
7
|
Kill
|
3
|
Maynooth
|
18
|
Ballymore Eustace
|
1
|
Kildare
|
32
|
Kilcock
|
5
|
Robertstown
|
4
|
Kilcullen
|
4
|
Monasterevin
|
6
|
Newbridge
|
35
|
Rathangan
|
4
|
Carbury
|
4
|
Ballytore
|
2
|
Carlow
|
70
|
Leighlinbridge
|
1
|
Ballon
|
1
|
Myshall
|
1
|
Muinebheag
|
10
|
Athy
|
19
|
Castledermot
|
2
|
Hacketstown
|
1
|
Rathvilly
|
1
|
Tullow
|
11
|
I am also informed that as of 31 August 2008 there were 697 members of the Force attached to Community Policing and of these, 4 members are attached to the Carlow/Kildare Division based in Naas Garda Station. It is of course the case that all Gardaí have a role to play in addressing community policing issues as and when the need arises. In that sense, community policing involves far more than a single unit within the Garda Síochána, and I agree with the view of the Garda Inspectorate, expressed in its most recent report, that community policing is a fundamental policing philosophy and that there is a strong foundation for it in Ireland.
The Deputy will be aware that the 2008 Garda Annual Policing Plan sets out the Commissioner's proposals to realign the boundaries of Garda Divisions around the country to make them coterminous with local authority boundaries. Included in this is a plan to establish a new Garda Division in Kildare. The planned changes will bring about greater efficiencies and effectiveness in facilitating the establishment and functioning of Joint Policing Committees. A detailed programme of work is currently being developed by An Garda Síochána to implement these planned changes for various Garda Divisions. This programme of work will also examine the geographical areas of district and sub-district stations arising from the regional and divisional boundary realignments set out in the plan and will set out a timetable for the establishment of the new divisions.