Vol. 373 No. 14
asked the Minister for Justice if a full-time Garda station in Maynooth, County Kildare will be provided; if this is not feasible in the near future if he will make provision for a 24-hour patrol car on a regular basis for Maynooth; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
28.
asked the Minister for Justice if he will provide a Garda patrol car for use on a 24-hour basis to serve the towns of Maynooth, Celbridge and Clane, County Kildare; if he will make a commitment to the improvement of policing in these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 28 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the present opening hours of Maynooth station, 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 12 noon to 2.00 p.m. on Sundays, are considered adequate to meet local needs and are fixed so as to strike an appropriate balance between the provision of a station service and outdoor patrol duties. An extension of the station's opening hours would be at the expense of outdoor patrolling duties which are regarded as a very important element of the crime prevention activities of the Garda Síochána.
When Maynooth station is closed, members of the public who require Garda assistance can contact the Garda through the 999 system, by telephoning the district headquarters station at Naas or by using the free external radio-telephone — the `Green Man' — at Maynooth station which puts callers in immediate contact with Naas station.
In so far as mobile Garda patrols for Maynooth, Celbridge and Clane are concerned, I am informed by the Garda authorities that these areas are covered by mobile patrols from the district headquarters station at Naas on a 24-hour basis. In addition, there is a motorcycle assigned to Celbridge station and the patrol car assigned to Rathcoole can be called upon to assist if the need arises. The Garda authorities consider that these arrangements are adequate and make the most effective use of resources in providing a satisfactory mobile Garda service over the entire district.
As regards the policing arrangements generally, I am informed by the Garda authorities that an extra Garda was assigned to Celbridge recently and that the strength and other resources allocated to the three stations in question, together with the resources available from the district headquarters at Naas, are adequate to meet the present police needs of these areas. The situation will, however, continue to be kept under review.
