asked the Minister for Justice if his attention has been drawn to the serious incidents of robberies and vandalism in the Legan and Abbeyshrule areas of County Longford; if he will make available additional resources to deal with same; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Policing Arrangements.
46.
The arrangements for the policing of individual areas and the allocation of manpower and other resources to individual stations are matters for the Garda authorities, having regard to their assessment of needs, overall resources and other demands on Garda services.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that they do not consider that there is a serious crime problem in Legan or Abbeyshrule and that they are satisfied that the existing policing arrangements and manpower available are adequate to meet the policing needs of these two areas. Apart from patrols by the local gardaí, the areas are also served by mobile patrols from their respective district headquarters at Granard and Athlone and from the divisional headquarters at Mullingar. When the local station is closed, callers may contact the district headquarters for assistance by means of the external radio-telephone, or "Green Man", which can be used at any time of the day or night. The gardaí at the district headquarters are in radio contact with all foot and mobile patrols operating in the area so that the most appropriate unit can respond to calls for assistance.