Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 383: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the opening hours of each of the Garda stations in County Clare; if he intends to extend the opening hours of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23431/05]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 384: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of Garda stations in County Clare which are not currently occupied other than by the green man; if he will list such stations; his plans for the future of such stations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23432/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take questions Nos. 383 and 384 together.

I have been informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the official opening hours of each of the Garda stations in the Clare division as at 29 June 2005 is as set out in the following table:

I have been further informed that local Garda management does not propose to extend the opening hours of any of the Garda stations in the Clare division. It states that the extension of the current opening hours at any of these stations would necessitate the employment of additional personnel on indoor administrative duties who may be more effectively employed on visible outdoor policing duties.

Local Garda management also reports that there are currently no Garda stations in County Clare which are not occupied other than by the green man. Each Garda station has been allocated Garda personnel. Each sub-district station is equipped with a green man, which is linked directly to the local district headquarters for use by the public when the member assigned to such a station is on patrol or on rostered rest days.

In relation to Garda resources generally, I am pleased 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 An 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 draw up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources. In this context, the needs of the Clare division will be fully considered in the context of the needs of Garda divisions 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. One promise I have already made is that the additional gardaí will not be put on administrative duties. They will be put directly into frontline, operational, high visibility policing and will have a real impact.