Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 14 Nov 2000

Vol. 525 No. 5

Written Answers. - Garda Strength.

Paul McGrath

Ceist:

365 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will confirm Garda numbers at each Garda station in County Westmeath; and if he will compare these numbers with the corresponding figures for each of the past five years. [25818/00]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

I am informed by the Garda authorities which are responsible for the detailed allocation of personnel and resources to an individual area that the county of Westmeath is policed by the division of Longford-Westmeath. The Garda personnel strength, all ranks, of each district which directly polices County Westmeath as of 1 November for the years 1996 to 2000, inclusive, is as set out hereunder:

District/Year	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000
Mullingar	88	86	88	86	90
Athlone	63	59	65	62	64
Granard	39	38	38	42	40

I am also informed that the Garda Commissioner is not in favour, for operational reasons, of releasing details of individual Garda station strengths in Garda districts and I share that concern. I am further informed that county boundaries do not correlate to Garda district and divisional boundaries.