Garda Stations

Tuesday, 15 January 2019

Questions (464)

Jackie Cahill

Question:

464. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to reopen the Garda Stations at Dolla, Toomevara and Ballingarry in north County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1232/19]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

The Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is primarily responsible for the effective and efficient use of the resources available to An Garda Síochána and for carrying on and managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána.

I have asked the Commissioner for the information requested and when it is received I will write directly to the Deputy.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A

I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 464 for answer on 15 January 2019 in which the Deputy asked if there are plans to reopen the Garda stations at Dolla, Toomevara and Ballingary North, Co. Tipperary.

The Deputy will recall that the information you requested could not be obtained in the time available, and I undertook to contact him again when the information was to hand.

As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána as well as for decisions in relation to the allocation and management of Garda personnel including the opening hours of Garda stations. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that Dolla Garda Station is open from 14.00 to 15:00 Monday to Friday. There is also a member living in the Official Garda Accommodation attached to Dolla Garda Station.

I am further informed that Toomevara Garda Station is open from 10.00 to 11.00 Monday to Friday. The Garda authorities are currently in the process of allocating a full time Garda member to Toomevara Garda Station.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that resources at Nenagh District Headquarters Station are utilised to open both Toomevara and Dolla Garda stations and that all incoming calls are diverted to Nenagh District Headquarters Station when the stations are closed.

The Garda authorities inform me that Ballingarry North Garda Station is not operational and that the Ballingarry North area is policed as part of the Borrisokane sub-district.

As the Deputy will appreciate, responsibility for management of Garda resources rests with the Garda Commissioner. You may also be aware that as recently as last month, the Garda Síochána Inspectorate in its report “Policing with Local Communities” confirmed that this is the appropriate place for this responsibility.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that that Dolla, Toomevara and Ballingarry are policed as part the Nenagh District which is part of the Tipperary Division. Where appropriate, the work of local Gardaí is also supported by a number of Garda national units such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.

I understand from the Garda authorities that the allocation of Garda resources is subject to constant review in light of crime trends and policing needs arising, to ensure optimum use of Garda resources and that the best possible policing service continues to be provided to the public.

For the Deputy's information, I have set out in the following table the number of Gardaí assigned to Nenagh District as of 30 November 2018, the latest date for which figures are currently available.

I trust this information is of assistance.

DIVISIONS	DISTRICTS	STATIONS	GD	SG	IN	SU	CS	AC	TOTAL
TIPPERARY	NENAGH	BORRISOKANE	3	0	0	0	0	0	3
		CLOUGHJORDAN	1	0	0	0	0	0	1
		LORRHA	1	0	0	0	0	0	1
		MONEYGALL	1	0	0	0	0	0	1
		NENAGH	39	6	0	1	0	0	46
		NEWPORT	10	1	0	0	0	0	11
		PORTROE	1	0	0	0	0	0	1
		ROSCREA	16	3	0	0	0	0	19
		Total	72	10	0	1	0	0	79