asked the Minister for Justice if he will increase the strength at Dunboyne Garda station, County Meath, in view of the rapidly increasing population in the area.
51.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Policing of Meath Area.
50.
asked the Minister for Justice if, in view of the growth of semi-urban policing problems in the area, he will consider incorporating Dunboyne, County Meath, in the Dublin Metropolitan Garda area.
52.
asked the Minister for Justice if he will make available the squad car service linked with the 999 call system in the Dunboyne area, County Meath.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 50, 51 and 52 together.
It would not be in the interests of the prevention or detection of crime or of other police duties to say what, where, or when particular police arrangements are in force. The Commissioner has assured me that the Dunboyne area is adequately serviced and will continue to be so.
As indicated in answer to a recent question by the Deputy, the Dublin metropolitan area, as at present constituted, covers Dublin city, Dún Laoghaire, most of County Dublin and also portions of County Wicklow and County Kildare. The metropolitan division could not be extended further into additional districts in adjoining counties and the suggested incorporation of Dunboyne in the 999 call system would not be practicable. This is the commissioner's view, which I accept.
Is the Minister aware that it takes approximately an hour and very often more to get a squad car to the Dunboyne area, whereas if they were allowed get a car from Blanchardstown they could get it in ten minutes and this delay has caused some unfortunate incidents? Is he further aware that there has been an increase in the population of Dunboyne of approximately 1,500 people during the past four years, that there is very heavy traffic on a number of roads going through the area, that the existing gardaí are heavily taxed and that the new off-duty arrangements have put a further strain on them? An increase in the strength of this station is long overdue, particularly since this area is now a growth centre.
In the case of serious emergencies, it is possible to get a squad car from Dublin; but in the normal way the Dunboyne area is in the Trim division and is served from there.
Yes, a squad car must come from Trim or from Dublin and there may be a delay of more than an hour.
A squad car would travel from Trim in very much less than an hour.
There is only one squad car there and, if that happened to be out in the country when a call came through, it could take more than an hour to reach Dunboyne.