Written answers

Tuesday, 22 March 2005

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Garda Resources

8:00 pm

Photo of Michael NoonanMichael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 467: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if additional gardaí will be assigned to Limerick to act as community gardaí to combat the waive of anti-social behaviour and petty crime in the city; if his attention has been drawn to the particular needs in this respect of neighbourhoods adjacent to Limerick Regional Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8783/05]

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I have been informed by the Garda authorities responsible for the detailed allocation of Garda resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of the Limerick division as at 18 March 2005 was 482, all ranks. Local Garda management is satisfied that the areas adjacent to Limerick Regional Hospital are well serviced by the gardaí from Roxboro Road station.

Local Garda management reports that in the past year an additional two gardaí have been allocated to community policing duties in Limerick city north district and an additional sergeant and one garda have been allocated to community policing duties in Limerick city south district. A total of 21 gardaí, all ranks, are working full-time on community policing duties in Limerick city.

The allocation of further suitable personnel to community policing duties in the city is resource driven and dependent on other policing priorities in the city at any given time. The issue of allocating further personnel to community policing duties is kept under review by Garda management and additional personnel will be allocated to a particular area in the city as and when local Garda management considers it appropriate to do so.

On Garda resources generally, I am pleased that the Government has approved my proposal to increase the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 members on a phased basis, in line with the agreed programme for Government commitment in this regard. This is a key commitment in the programme for Government, and its implementation will significantly strengthen the operational capacity of the force.

The Commissioner will now draw up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources. In this context, the needs of Limerick city will be fully considered within the context of the needs of Garda districts throughout the country. Clearly, the additional resources will be targeted at the areas of greatest need, as is envisaged in the programme for Government. The programme identifies in particular areas with a significant drugs problem and a large number of public order offences, but it will be possible to address other priorities as well, such as the need to very significantly increase the number of gardaí allocated to traffic duties as part of the new Garda traffic corps. I have already promised that the additional gardaí will not be put on administrative duties, they will be put directly into frontline, operational, high-visibility policing. They will have a real impact.

Mildred Fox (Wicklow, Independent)
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Question 468: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will consider granting additional resources for the areas of Roundwood, Glendalough, Laragh and Enniskerry to cope with the upsurge in crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8784/05]

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities responsible for the detailed allocation of personnel and resources that the Laragh, Glendalough and Roundwood areas of County Wicklow are policed by gardaí attached to Rathdrum and Roundwood Garda stations.

The personnel strength, all ranks, of the Rathdrum, Roundwood and Enniskerry Garda stations, as at 18 March 2005 was as set out in this table

Station Strength
Rathdrum 4
Roundwood 4
Enniskerry 5

There is a patrol vehicle attached to each of the Garda stations at Enniskerry, Rathdrum and Roundwood.

I am further informed that Garda management for the Wexford-Wicklow division is satisfied with the policing arrangements in the Roundwood-Rathdrum areas. Similarly, management in the Dublin east division is satisfied with policing arrangements in the Enniskerry area. A number of successful crime prevention and detection initiatives have been undertaken in the above areas in the recent past.

On Garda resources generally, I am pleased that the Government has approved my proposal to increase the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 members on a phased basis, in line with the agreed programme for Government commitment in this regard. This is a key commitment in the programme for Government, and its implementation will significantly strengthen the operational capacity of the force.

The Commissioner will now draw up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources. In this context, the needs of Enniskerry, Rathdrum and Roundwood Garda stations will be fully considered within the context of the needs of Garda stations throughout the country. Clearly, the additional resources will be targeted at the areas of greatest need, as is envisaged in the programme for Government. The programme identifies in particular areas with a significant drugs problem and a large number of public order offences, but it will be possible to address other priorities as well, such as the need to very significantly increase the number of gardaí allocated to traffic duties as part of the new Garda traffic corps. I have already promised that the additional gardaí will not be put on administrative duties, they will be put directly into frontline, operational, high-visibility policing. They will have a real impact.

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