Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 February 2009
364 Deputy Noel J. Coonan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his Department has proposals to have a full time garda presence in a town (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if his attention has been drawn to the population increase of the town. [4574/09]
View answer365 Deputy Noel J. Coonan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the current hours of garda presence in a town (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the station that covers the town in case of emergency in the event of no garda presence; the length of time it takes for a call out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4576/09]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 364 and 365 together.
I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of Newport Garda Station on 31 December 2008, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 6. At that date, Newport Garda Station formed part of Killaloe Garda District in Clare Garda Division. However, since 1 January 2009 Newport Garda Station forms part of Nenagh Garda District in Tipperary Garda Division.
Newport Garda Station is open to the public from 10am to 12.30pm Monday to Friday depending on the rostered tour of duty of members attached to the station and patrols are normally carried out by personnel from that Garda Station. Outside of these times, or in the event of an emergency, members of An Garda Síochána from the District Headquarters in Nenagh carry out patrols in the area referred to and provide an incident response. Additional resources are also available from other units in the Tipperary Division and adjacent Districts and Divisions.
It is the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner to allocate personnel throughout the Force taking everything into account. The situation will be kept under review and when additional personnel next become available the needs of Newport Garda Station will be fully considered within the overall context of policing requirements throughout the country.
