Vol. 558 No. 6
173 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the normal criteria used in deciding to set up a new district headquarters; and if a population figure of 40,239 between the towns of Maynooth, Leixlip and Celbridge, County Kildare would merit the provision of such a district headquarters in one of the three towns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25315/02]
Decisions on the establishment of new Garda districts are based on operational, geographical and logistical factors. Consideration is given to the following: change in demographics, change in crime statistics, public order offences and other policing requirements i.e. security, traffic and all other policing activities; the state of repair of existing Garda stations and cost of upgrading, the availability and suitability of property for a new district headquarters must be considered together with the views of the Office of Public Works; and matching staffing levels to policing requirements, optimising the service An Garda Síochána provides to the public.
There are currently no plans to establish a district headquarters for the area of Maynooth, Leixlip and Celbridge.
