Vol. 481 No. 4
221 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí in Athy, County Kildare; if he intends to increase the number of gardaí to ensure the provision of a 24 hour surveillance for the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16164/97]
The detailed deployment of Garda personnel and resources to individual areas is a matter for the Garda authorities. They have informed me that the strength of Athy Garda station on 31 August 1997 was 16 members, all ranks. There has been a vacancy at garda rank since the retirement of a member on 10 July 1997.
The opening hours of Athy Garda station are from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day except for two one-hour periods when it closes for meal breaks. At all times when the station is closed a telephone call diversion system linked to the District Headquarters at Carlow Garda station comes into operation. In addition, there is a public call box at Athy Garda station to cater for callers to the station outside of opening hours. I am informed that the station party at Athy provide a policing service in the area for up to 23 hours daily and this service is augmented by patrols based at the District Headquarters at Carlow.
The Garda authorities have informed me that there are no plans at present to open Athy Garda station on a 24-hour basis. However, I understand from them that the policing arrangements for the Athy area are constantly reviewed to meet changing demands and that they will continue to monitor the situation. They have also assured me that as additional personnel become available for allocation the needs of the Athy area will be considered in conjunction with the needs of all other Garda districts and divisions in the country.
