Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 12 Dec 2000

Vol. 528 No. 1

Written Answers. - Garda Strength.

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

375 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps being taken by his Department to ensure that a full complement of four gardaí will be restored to Castlepollard Garda Station, County Westmeath and that the said Garda station will be kept open on a full-time basis with full-time staffing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29723/00]

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

I am informed by the Garda authorities who are responsible for the detailed allocation of personnel and resources to individual areas that the personnel strength – all ranks – of Castlepollard Garda station as at 1 December 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 is as set out hereunder:

Year	Strength
1/12/1997	3
1/12/1998	3
1/12/1999	3
1/12/2000	3

I am also informed that the station is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily. When not open, the PACB – the Green Man – and call diversion systems are in operation and linked to the district headquarters at Granard. There is one official patrol car allocated to Castlepollard Garda station.

I am further informed by the Garda authorities that the extension of the current opening hours to 24 hours each day would necessitate the deployment of Garda personnel on indoor administrative duties and that such personnel can be utilised more effectively in providing a visible Garda presence on outdoor policing duties.