Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 25 Jun 1996

Vol. 467 No. 4

Written Answers. - Garda Deployment.

Michael Woods

Ceist:

211 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Justice, in relation to her reply to Parliamentary Question No. 112 of Tuesday, 11 June 1996, if she will state with regard to the 165 members of the Garda Síochána from the Dublin metropolitan area who were then currently assigned to Border duty arising from the BSE situation, the number of these members who were drawn from each of the five Dublin metropolitan area divisions; and the number who were drawn from the J and R districts of Dublin metropolitan area north. [13234/96]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

The Garda authorities are responsible for the detailed allocation of Garda resources and personnel to different areas. They have expressed concern, and I share that concern, about supplying the kind of detailed information relating to Garda personnel sought by the Deputy, on the grounds of security and in the interests of crime prevention generally.

A careful assessment of the operational implications was made by the Garda authorities before deciding on the numbers to be assigned from DMA and non-DMA Divisions. The Garda authorities will, of course, be making such arrangements as are necessary to minimise the effects of reductions in strength in particular areas as the need arises.