Cecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 261: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of occasions on which the mounted gardaí were used in a town (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2397/05]

Cecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 262: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the locations throughout the country in which the mounted gardaí have been used; the frequency with which they have been deployed in these locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2398/05]

Cecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 263: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reasons the mounted gardaí have been used in areas outside of Dublin; the details of the feedback that has been made by the mounted units in respect of their experiences in each of these locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2399/05]

Cecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 264: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he plans to extend the use of the mounted gardaí to all regions in the country; and if so, the timescale of the introduction of same. [2400/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 261 to 264, inclusive, together.

I have been informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the Garda mounted unit has been deployed to all Garda regions in support of Garda operational requirements since its formation in 1998. The unit is deployed to Garda regions in mainly a crime prevention and public order role.

Since September 2004, in addition to normal operational requirements, the Garda mounted unit has also been deployed in support of Operation Assist on a trial basis. In that role, the unit, in conjunction with the Garda air support, dog and water units, has been deployed to the cities and towns of Limerick, Cork, Galway, Carlow, Clonmel and Dundalk. In addition, the unit carried out public order patrols in Letterkenny on 2 and 3 December 2004 as part of Operation Assist in support of local policing requirements.

The use of the units to which I refer to complement local resources has received very positive feedback from both the public and media. With the emphasis on public order policing during the hours of darkness, it is intended to continue and extend this initiative during 2005 as part of the Garda Síochána's policing plans.