Vol. 419 No. 3
49 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Justice if he will make a statement on, (1) the fact that all Garda stations on the national primary route from Enfield, County Meath to Athlone, County Westmeath close at 6 p.m. each day, (2) the fact that there is no squad car based at any station within this route and (3) the high level of crime along this route.
The Garda stations concerned are Enfield, which is attached to the Louth/Meath Division and Kinnegad, Rochfordbridge, Kilbeggan, Moate and Athlone, which are attached to the Longford/Westmeath Divisions.
Arrangements regarding the hours which these and all other Garda stations are open to the public are a matter for the Garda Commissioner. I am informed by the Garda authorities that any extension of the existing opening hours would prove counter-productive by taking men off operational duties to deal with administrative work in the Garda stations concerned. The Commissioner is satisfied that the present arrangements make for the most effective use of available manpower resources.
A patrol car is attached to Enfield Garda station and operates on a 24 hour basis. The District patrol car at Trim is also available to assist in providing patrols in the area when required. With regard to the stations mentioned above in the Longford/Westmeath Division, patrols are carried out by local Gardaí and in addition to this is a motorcycle attached to both Moate and Kinnegad stations which provide mobile patrols.
Patrols are also provided by mobile units from Mullingar to Kinnegad and Rochfordbridge and also from Athlone to Kilbeggan and Moate. This stretch of roadway is also policed by the Traffic Corps which is based in Mullingar.
Crime levels in the Districts in question are quite low; for instance the provisional crime figures for last year for the sub-District of Enfield indicate a reduction of about 1/3 over the 1990 figure, while those for the Moate sub-District show a slight reduction.
