Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Question 1169: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the benefits the re-drawing of the Garda boundaries will have for County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1317/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Proposals to alter the boundaries of a Garda regional or divisional geographical area, or to establish or relocate a divisional or district headquarters are matters in the first instance for the Garda Commissioner in the context of the Annual Policing Plan. The 2008 Policing Plan sets out the Commissioner's plans to realign the boundaries of a number of Garda Divisions around the country to make them coterminous with local authority boundaries. I recently approved the plan before laying it before the Houses of the Oireachtas. Included in the plan is the creation of a new Kildare Garda Division with Naas as its headquarters.

The key benefits of this initiative for County Kildare and more widely are:

greater efficiencies and effectiveness in facilitating the establishment and working of Joint Policing Committees;

reduced duplication of effort for Garda management where Garda Divisions and Districts currently cross Local Authority boundaries; and

better consultation between An Garda Síochána and elected representatives concerning matters of public disorder and other anti-social behaviour and crime in general.

A detailed programme of work is currently being developed by An Garda Síochána to implement the establishment of the Kildare Division and the other changes contained in the policing plan. This programme of work will also examine the geographical areas of district and sub-district stations arising from the re-alignment of the regional and divisional boundaries set out in the plan and will set out a timetable for the establishment of the new divisions.