Vol. 437 No. 4
100 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Justice the proposals; if any, she has to increase Garda strength in rural areas; the amount of Garda service that is provided in an area (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
The Garda authorities are responsible for the detailed allocation of Garda manpower and resources to individual areas. This allocation is made having regard to the overall demands for policing services balanced against factors such as crime levels and population shifts. I am informed by the Commissioner that, taking these matters into account, the current distribution throughout the country is intended to achieve the optimum use of existing Garda manpower and resources.
With regard to the specific question asked the Garda authorities inform me that the rural area in question forms part of the Ballymacarberry sub-district. The strength of this sub-district is one sergeant and two gardaí and this has remained unchanged over the past three years. The station is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. from Monday to Saturday and from 12 noon to 1 p.m. on Sundays. The area is also patrolled from the District Headquarters at Dungarvan and if the need arises, the patrol car from Lismore is also made available to respond to calls in the area. The Garda authorities have no plans to alter the current policing arrangements in the area, which they consider to be adequate to meet the needs there, but they are being kept under continuing review.
