Vol. 559 No. 1
383 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the pilot programme operating in the Tallaght area using cycle units; and if there are plans to mainstream or extend this programme to other areas. [25492/02]
384 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will supply a report on the effectiveness of the Garda cycle unit based in Tallaght. [25493/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 383 and 384 together.
I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the initial Garda mountain bike pilot project was established on 5 June 2001 in two Garda districts – Tallaght and Raheny. Following evaluation, the Garda Commissioner has directed the extension of the project further to include Limerick and Galway cities and four additional Garda districts in Dublin, including two in the city centre. Work on training additional personnel and the acquisition of the necessary equipment is progressing. Some personnel are already trained and are being deployed, with bicycles, on Operation Freeflow in the city centre area. It is anticipated that training for the remaining selected personnel will be completed in early 2003.
385 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans being proposed by the Garda authorities to include parts of Kingswood, which are currently covered by Clondalkin Garda Station, into the Tallaght divisional area. [25494/02]
I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the allocation and deployment of Garda personnel, that parts of Kingswood are currently policed by Clondalkin district headquarters in the D.M.R. west division and parts by Tallaght district headquarters in the D.M.R. south division. I am further informed that the Garda authorities currently have no plans to include all of the Kingswood area in the Tallaght district headquarters area in the D.M.R. south division.
