asked the Minister for Justice if, in view of the recent bank robberies in Donegal and the likelihood of repetition with consequent hardship and dislocation to commercial and business life and in view of the particular location of County Donegal as a Border county, he proposes to take immediate special measures to increase the number of gardaí in the county and to provide modern equipment for them.
Written Answers. - County Donegal Bank Robberies.
72.
The Deputy will appreciate that the allocation of manpower within the Garda force is a matter best left to the judgment of experienced police officers and I am informed by the commissioner that the present allocation of men to County Donegal is reasonable, having regard to all the circumstances including of course the needs of other areas.
The Garda are at present getting delivery of a consignment of new cars. In anticipation of this, a virtually new car has already been allocated to County Donegal to replace an old one and another new one from the present consignment will be sent there within the next week.
The Garda radio equipment in County Donegal is new. A survey is being carried out by the Garda research and planning unit as a preliminary to the preparation of plans for an expanded radio network both in County Donegal and elsewhere.