Tony Gregory
Ceist:103 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Justice if the Garda will arrange regular patrols along Seville Place, Dublin 1, at peak evening traffic hours to deter muggings. [19515/96]
Written Answers. - Garda Deployment.
The deployment of Garda personnel is the responsibility of the Garda authorities. They have informed me that as part of Operation Dochas, which came into effect on 7 October 1996 two extra gardaí were assigned to the Seville Place-Sheriff Street area bringing the total number of gardaí assigned to policing this area to four. In addition to foot-patrols in Seville Place and Sheriff Street, the Garda authorities inform me that the area is patrolled by mobile units operating out of Store Street station and also by the divisional crime task force operating from Fitzgibbon Street station.
The Garda authorities have informed me that the number of crimes committed in Seville Place to date this year shows a significant decrease on the figure for the same period last year. They believe that the patrols already in place provide an effective service to the public and that the deployment of Garda personnel in Seville Place is adequate during peak evening traffic hours. They will, of course, keep the matter under review.