Vol. 468 No. 1
174 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Justice if she will give details of the current Garda establishment in counties Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan and Louth; the number of gardaí transferred out of these areas since August 1994; the current position in relation to temporary transfers on BSE operations; if these gardaí have been returned to their home stations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14669/96]
The deployment of Garda personnel and resources to individual areas is a matter for the Garda authorities. They have informed me that policing in the counties of Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan and Louth is provided by the Garda divisions of Donegal, Cavan-Monaghan and Louth-Meath. The current strengths (all ranks) of each of these divisions is as follows: Donegal Division, 483; Cavan-Monaghan Division, 398; Louth-Meath Division, 478.
Since August 1994 the reallocation and retirement, etc. of personnel in the three divisions has resulted in the following net changes to their strengths: Donegal Division, -25; Cavan-Monaghan Division, -20; Louth-Meath Division, +4. I understand from the Garda authorities that 327 gardaí have been temporarily transferred to Border duties in connection with the BSE operation. These members are due to return to their permanent stations on 14 July 1996 and will be replaced by other members from their divisions.
