Vol. 540 No. 1
419 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on whether the towns of Maynooth, Celbridge and Leixlip in County Kildare are adequately served in respect of policing requirements on a 24 hour basis; his further views on whether Maynooth Garda station should be designated a district head quarters to properly police this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19773/01]
I am informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of personnel and resources to individual areas, that Maynooth and Celbridge Garda stations are in the Naas District. Naas Garda station is open on a 24 hour basis. Leixlip Garda station is in the Lucan District. Lucan Garda station is open on a 24 hour basis. There is one patrol car assigned to the town of Maynooth for routine patrolling. Celbridge has two patrol cars, one for detective branch and one for routine patrolling. A total of 19 vehicles are allocated to the Naas district.
Leixlip has two vehicles, a community policing van and one patrol car for routine patrolling. A total of 16 vehicles are allocated to the Lucan district. When Maynooth, Celbridge and Leixlip Garda stations are not open, PACB and call diversion systems are in operation and linked to the district headquarters. A message is then relayed to a patrol car to attend to the call. Resources are augmented as required by district and divisional mobile patrols.
The extension of station opening hours to 24 hours would necessitate the employment of Garda personnel on indoors administrative duties. Such personnel can be utilised more effectively in providing a visible Garda presence on outdoor policing duties. Local Garda management is satisfied that the arrangements currently in place at these stations are adequate to meet the present policing needs of the areas in question. I am further informed that it is not proposed to designate Maynooth Garda station as a district headquarters at this time.
420 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the allocation of Garda personnel of all ranks to the Carlow-Kildare division; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19774/01]
I am informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of personnel and resources to individual areas, that the current personnel strength in the Division of Carlow-Kildare is 315 for all ranks. This compares with a figure of 283 on 1 January 1997 and represents an increase of 11.3% in the personnel allocated to the Carlow-Kildare division between 1 January 1997 and 28 June 2001. I am further informed by the Garda authorities that the situation will be kept under review and when additional personnel next becomes available the needs of the Carlow/Kildare division will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda districts throughout the country.
