Jim D'Arcy (Fine Gael)
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Will the Minister for Justice and Equality clarify the position on staffing levels and operational procedures in Blackrock Garda station, Blackrock, County Louth, in view of community concerns about a possible reduction in staff numbers? In 2012, a Garda sergeant and four gardaí were stationed at Blackrock Garda station. The number had been augmented some years earlier due to the rapidly increasing population of the area, but in recent times those numbers have been reduced and at present there is one Garda sergeant and one Garda in the station. I realise that one Garda in the station was badly injured in the course of duty but is recovering well. He is an excellent member of the Garda Síochána. Another Garda in the station has been reassigned to the Adrian Donohoe case, which is very important work. We all hope the perpetrators of that dastardly murder will be brought to justice. Wherever they are hiding at the moment, there is no hiding place for them.

Blackrock is a growing area. Due to the hard work of the local tidy towns committee and the traders, it has again become a great tourist attraction for the people of Louth, Monaghan and Cavan. It is an area that has always been visited by Cavan and Monaghan people. The poet, Patrick Kavanagh, wrote about going to Blackrock for the day. The tourist aspect of Blackrock died down over a number of years as it became a residential area. Today, like Carlingford, which due to the efforts of people such as Senator Terry Brennan has become one of the best tourist attractions not only in Louth but in Ireland, Blackrock is becoming a very attractive location for people to visit. It attracts its share of people who can play on that. There has been a large increase in burglaries not only in Blackrock but in the Louth area due to its accessibility to tourist criminals. Notwithstanding the great work done by the Minister for Justice and Equality in increasing Garda numbers nationally and in Louth, we need at least one extra Garda, or perhaps two on a permanent basis, when the injured Garda recovers, to deal with the crime levels in the area.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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The Minister wishes to thank the Senator for raising this important matter. The House will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, transport and other facilities throughout the organisation and the Minister has no function in the matter. This allocation of resources is constantly monitored by the Commissioner and her senior management in the context of demographics, crime trends, policing needs and other operational strategies in place on a district, divisional and regional level to ensure optimum use is made of Garda resources.

Specifically in relation to the Louth division, the Minister has been informed by the Commissioner's office that 279 gardaí are assigned to the division, of which four are assigned to Blackrock Garda station. There are also 46 reserve gardaí and 22 civilians attached to the division. When members attached to Blackrock Garda station are not on duty, telephone calls are transferred to Dundalk Garda station.

Last September the Government oversaw the first recruitment of new gardaí since 2009. The Garda College was reopened for new recruitments and the Government is committed to not letting it close again. To date, 300 new recruits have entered the Garda College, and the first of these joined the force as sworn members last week. The Minister also recently received sanction from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, for the recruitment of a further 250 new gardaí in the coming months. The additional recruitment will bring to 550 the total number of gardaí who will have been recruited by the Government between September 2014 and October 2015. This signifies the determination of this Government to deliver an effective, responsive police service to protect our communities and respond to emerging crime trends.

The allocation of resources within the Louth division continues to be closely monitored by Garda management to ensure that, within existing constraints, optimum use is made of resources to provide the best possible Garda service to the public and to address the policing needs of communities. Garda management is satisfied that a full and comprehensive policing service is being delivered to the communities in the area concerned and that current structures in place meet the requirements of the delivery of an effective and efficient policing service. The Garda Commissioner will, of course, continue to keep the needs of the Louth Garda division under review within the overall context of the needs of Garda divisions throughout the country.

The Minister is determined that the resources of An Garda Síochána will be used in the best, most effective and efficient way possible.The Minister is confident that the primary Garda objective of combating crime will continue to be achieved and that despite pressure on the public finances it will be possible for the force to operate to the optimum benefit of our communities in a manner that will facilitate the prevention and detection of offences.

Jim D'Arcy (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I would like to put on record that the people of Louth appreciate the great work being done by An Garda Síochána.

Traditionally, special resources were provided to deal with extraordinary actions in Border areas. While I acknowledge that the allocation of resources is a matter for the Garda Commissioner, it would appear that Louth is under-resourced in terms of population and crime levels. Louth is in the Border area. A couple of weeks ago the British-Irish Council special reporting committee called for the establishment of a special task force to combat crime, such as diesel laundering, in the area. Will the Minister ask the Garda Commissioner to re-examine the possible recalibration of resources to take account of the extraordinary factors in Border areas?

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Again, I thank the Senator for raising this issue. As I alluded to earlier, with the recommencement of Garda recruitment, the allocation of gardaí on completion of training at the Garda College to the Louth division will be kept under review and fully considered by the Garda Commissioner in the context of the overall requirements of An Garda Síochána nationally. On behalf of the Minister and the Government I acknowledge the work An Garda Síochána does in maintaining the security of the State and in keeping communities throughout the country safe and to state that this Government will continue to support An Garda Síochána in its work. I have taken on board the issues raised by the Senator and will communicate them to the Minister for Justice and Equality.