John Browne
Ceist:137 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for Justice the reason for the removal of a telephone from a Garda's house in Myshall, County Carlow.
Written Answers. - Removal of Telephone.
The decision to remove telephone extensions from official Garda living accommodation, including the Garda house referred to, was taken by the Garda authorities as part of the process of providing the force with an improved and most cost effective telephone system in conjunction with the provision of the Garda national communications system. These extensions were provided at stations which are open only for a limited time each day and they did not guarantee a Garda response to calls made by the public outside of normal station opening hours.
The new Garda communications system incorporates a public access call facility at all such stations. By means of this facility members of the public can have immediate direct contact, from any station which is closed, with the local Garda district headquarters station which is open 24 hours per day. The public can also get Garda service at any time by phoning their local district headquarters directly or by dialing `999' in case of emergency.