John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)

The Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter, has asked me to thank the Senator for raising this important issue.

The Senator will be aware that proposals to alter Garda districts are a matter, in the first instance, for the Garda Commissioner, in accordance with the provisions of the Garda Síochána Acts. In that context, section 22 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 requires the Garda Commissioner to prepare an annual policing plan setting out the proposed arrangements for the policing of the State for the following year, including any proposal to first, establish or dissolve a national unit of the Garda Síochána, second, alter the boundaries of a regional geographical area under the control of an assistant Garda Commissioner or of a divisional geographical area under the control of a chief superintendent, third, establish or relocate a divisional headquarters under the control of a chief superintendent or of a district headquarters under the control of a superintendent, or fourth, open a Garda station in a new location or cease stationing members in an existing station.

The Garda Annual Policing Plan for 2012, which was laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas on 5 December 2011, set out the Commissioner's proposals in regard to changes within the Meath Garda division under which the Laytown district was merged with the Ashbourne Garda district. This occurred on 29 April 2012. The current strength of the new Ashbourne Garda district is 109 from a total of 296 gardaí in the Meath Garda division. There is also a total of 29 Garda reserves and 22 civilians attached to the Meath Garda division of which eight Garda reserves and six civilians are attached to the Ashbourne Garda district. The resources available in the Meath division are further augmented by the Garda national units such as the Garda National Drugs Unit, the Criminal Assets Bureau and other specialised units.

In preparing the policing plan, the Garda Commissioner reviewed all aspects of the Garda Síochána's policing model, including the deployment of personnel, the utilisation of modern technologies and the operation of Garda stations, in terms of opening hours and possible closures. In addition, all divisional officers were asked to assess the level of activity in each Garda station in their area. It must be stressed that the key objective of this ongoing review was and is to promote the more efficient and effective deployment of resources rather than secure specific cash savings.

The Commissioner's priority in introducing this change was to ensure that the most appropriate policing arrangements are in place to ensure the continued delivery of an effective policing service to all areas concerned and to ensure that Garda resources are deployed to meet the existing and projected policing requirements of the Meath Garda division in 2012. The Minister has been assured by the Garda authorities that the policing service provided within the Meath Garda division will be maintained following the proposed merger. The Commissioner is satisfied that this change will deliver greater efficiencies in the deployment of personnel and other resources, for example freeing up a superintendent for redeployment.

Garda management will continue to closely monitor the allocation of resources, taking account of transfers and retirements, crime trends, policing needs and other operational strategies in place on a district, divisional and regional level. The Meath Garda division and the new Ashbourne district are subject to the same level of monitoring and decision making to ensure that optimum use is made of Garda resources and the best possible Garda service is provided to the public. The Garda Commissioner has reiterated the commitment of the Garda Síochána to providing a professional and effective service to the community and has the Minister's full support in this regard.

The Minister wishes to pay tribute to the Garda Síochána for the commitment and professionalism it displays in carrying out its duties.