Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 12 Mar 1996

Vol. 462 No. 8

Written Answers. - Garda Reorganisation.

Peter Barry

Ceist:

215 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Justice if the reorganisation of the Garda regions has been fully implemented; if the offices of the Assistant Commissioners, so appointed to the new regions are fully operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5687/96]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

The Garda authorities are responsible for the detailed deployment of Garda personnel and resources to individual areas. They have informed me that the new Garda regions have been fully implemented and that the offices of the assistant commissioners to the new regions are fully operational.

Under the new structure the State will be divided into six regions, each under the control of an assistant commissioner. This new structure will provide the Garda Síochána with a much greater operational focus in terms of its leadership and will provide for a much more co-ordinated and cohesive approach to tackling, on an operational basis, all facets of crime. It will provide for an operational span of control which is wider than the present Garda division, yet more focused than the current centralised method of controlling cross-divisional operational matters from Garda headquarters in Dublin.