Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 98: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to change the geographical boundaries of the Garda districts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4831/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The final report of the Garda SMI implementation steering group made a number of recommendations in relation to the regional-divisional-district structure currently in place in the Garda Síochána. The report did not identify which districts, divisions or regions would be affected.

The Garda Síochána Bill 2004, which proposes the most fundamental modernisation of the Garda Síochána since the foundation of the State, provides that the commissioner will have enhanced responsibilities in preparing proposals for organisational reform. It would be premature to anticipate at this stage what proposals, if any, might be developed by the commissioner in this context.

A preliminary study group under the chairmanship of assistant commissioner, northern region, has recently been established to examine various issues associated with possible new boundary alignments.