Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 1209: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the new Kildare Garda division will be up and running; the location of the headquarters; if this change will result in increased areas for each station; if there will be an increase in the number of Gardaí located at each station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1587/08]

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. I recently approved the 2008 Annual Policing Plan and laid it before the Houses of the Oireachtas. It sets out the Commissioner's proposals to realign the boundaries of a number of Garda Divisions around the country to make them coterminous with local authority boundaries. Included in this realignment is the creation of a new Kildare Garda Division with Naas being proposed as the divisional headquarters.

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.

It is the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner to allocate personnel throughout the Force taking all factors into account. The needs of the Kildare Division will be fully considered by the Commissioner within the overall context of Garda needs.