Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 25 Jul 1996

Vol. 468 No. 4

Written Answers. - Garda Deployment.

John Browne

Ceist:

596 Mr. Browne (Wexford) asked the Minister for Justice the plans, if any, she has to deal with the ongoing problem of the lack of a Garda presence in Bunclody, County Wexford, which is causing grave concern to the local community where a number of robberies have taken place recently; and if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a Garda car from Bunclody was absent from the area for a number of days due to the Golf Classic at Druid's Glen, County Wicklow, which was totally unacceptable to the residents of Bunclody. [15362/96]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

The detailed allocation of Garda personnel and resources to individual areas is a matter for the Garda authorities. I understand from them that the current strength of Bunclody Garda station is four gardaí. The station is supervised by a sergeant from Courtown station. One of the gardaí from Bunclody station is temporarily assigned to Courtown for the July-August holiday period.

The station at Bunclody is open daily between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and when unmanned a direct communications link placing members of the public in contact with the Garda at Gorey is in operation.

I have been informed by the Garda authorities that there is a patrol car attached to the station and on certain days during the Irish open golf championship at Druid's Glen it was necessary to divert the car to other duties. However, during these periods I understand that patrols were carried out by the traffic corps, thereby maintaining continuity of Garda service to the Bunclody area.

The Garda authorities have stated that to date in 1996 there have been no robberies recorded in the area. In fact, crime statistics for Bunclody for the past three years indicate a downward trend.

The Garda authorities have informed me that they are satisfied with the current level of policing in Bunclody and that they do not intend increasing these levels at present. However, they will continue to keep the matter under review.