Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As I said earlier in response to a similar question on a different area, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel among the Garda regions, divisions and districts. It is kept under review and now that more gardaí are being recruited, there are new people available to go to new areas. In summary, there were 31 stations on 30 April 2011 with 303 members assigned to the Longford-Roscommon division. On 30 April 2016, there were 22 stations in the Longford-Roscommon division with 298 gardaí assigned to the division, a small drop in the number of gardaí there. There is a lot of information available down to district and sub-district level and I have arranged for it to be made available to the Deputy and to be put on the record.

I want to see a strong and visible police presence. This is dependent on recruitment and on the increasing civilianisation of gardaí and freeing gardaí from administrative tasks, which is extremely important to give our communities reassurance and to deter crime.

We are having success in terms of the targeted operations. I put the figures relating to Operation Thor in the public arena some time ago. I made €5 million available for overtime in that very targeted operation to deal with the spate of burglaries we have been seeing, and it had extremely good effects in many areas throughout the country. We have extra recruitment now and I hope to accelerate that process in September so that we will have more gardaí available to be assigned, at the discretion of the Commissioner, to the areas where the crime trends show the need for them.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

Division of Roscommon / Longford 30 April 2016: Total = 298

Division	District	Station	Members
ROSCOMMON / LONGFORD	CASTLEREA	BALLAGHADERREEN	8
		BALLINLOUGH	2
		BOYLE	25
		CASTLEREA	35
		ELPHIN	2
		FRENCHPARK	3
		KEADUE	1
		ROOSKY	4
		STROKESTOWN	5
		TULSK	1
	CASTLEREA	Total	86
	GRANARD	DRUMLISH	2
		EDGEWORTHSTOWN	11
		GRANARD	28
		SMEAR	1
	GRANARD	Total	42
	LONGFORD	BALLYMAHON	9
		KENAGH	1
		LANESBORO	6
		LONGFORD	73
	LONGFORD	Total	89
	ROSCOMMON	ATHLEAGUE	1
		CLONARK	5
		ROSCOMMON	74
		TAUGHMACONNELL	1
	ROSCOMMON	Total	81

Division of Roscommon / Longford 30 April 2011: Total = 303

Division	District	Station	Members
ROSCOMMON / LONGFORD	BOYLE	BOYLE	30
		COOTEHALL	1
		ELPHIN	2
		KEADUE	1
		ROOSKY	3
		STROKESTOWN	4
		TARMONBARRY	2
		Total	43
	CASTLEREA	BALLAGHADERREEN	7
		BALLINLOUGH	2
		BALLINTUBBER	1
		CASTLEREA	35
		FRENCHPARK	3
		LOUGHGLYNN	1
		TULSK	1
		Total	50
	GRANARD	ARDAGH	1
		BALLINALEE	1
		DRUMLISH	2
		EDGEWORTHSTOWN	8
		GRANARD	30
		SMEAR	1
		Total	43
	LONGFORD	BALLYMAHON	6
		KENAGH	1
		LANESBORO	6
		LONGFORD	61
		NEWTOWNCASHEL	1
		Total	75
	ROSCOMMON	ATHLEAGUE	2
		BALLYFORAN	1
		CLONARK	1
		KNOCKCROGHERY	7
		ROSCOMMON	80
		TAUGHMACONNELL	1
		Total	92

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