Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 401: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of community and reserve Gardaí in each station in the Wicklow division of the Gardaí; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7483/08]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 402: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of community or Reserve Force Gardaí at present in each Garda station in the Meath/Louth Garda division; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7484/08]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 403: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of community Gardaí or Gardaí Reserve in the Kildare/Carlow division stationed in each of the stations, Naas, Newbridge, Clane, Kilcock, Celbridge, Leixlip, Rathangan, Carbury, Monasterevin, Kilcullen, Athy, Ballytore, Castledermot; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7485/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 401 to 403, inclusive, together.

I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the number of Community Gardaí based in the Wicklow/Wexford Garda Division on 31 December, 2007 (the latest date for which figures are readily available) was 4. These members are based in Wexford Garda Station.

The number of Community Gardaí based in the Louth/Meath Garda Division on 31 December, 2007 was 12. These members are based in each station as set out in the table hereunder:

The number of Community Gardaí in the Carlow/Kildare Garda Division on 31 December, 2007 was 3. These members are based at Naas Garda Station. Kilcock Garda Station forms part of the Louth/Meath Garda Division. Leixlip Garda Station forms part of the DMR West Garda Division. The number of Community Gardaí based at Leixlip Garda Station was 3.

All Gardaí have responsibility, inter alia, to be involved in Community Policing issues as they arise.

The Deputy will appreciate that, as with any large organisation, on any given day, personnel strengths of individual stations may fluctuate due, for example, to promotions, retirements and transfers.

It is the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner to allocate personnel throughout the Force taking everything into account. The next allocation of Probationer Gardaí is due to take place on 13 March next. In that regard, the needs of the Garda Stations and Divisions referred to will be fully considered by the Commissioner within the overall context of the needs of Garda Stations and Divisions throughout the country.

I have been further informed by the Garda Commissioner that the number of Reserve Gardaí stationed in Wicklow/Wexford, Louth/Meath and Carlow/Kildare Divisions broken down by station on 31 January, 2008, was as set out in the table hereunder:

I recently approved the 2008 Garda Annual Policing Plan and laid it before the Houses of the Oireachtas. It sets out the Commissioner's proposals to realign the boundaries of Garda Divisions around the country to make them coterminous with local authority boundaries. Included in this is a plan to establish new Garda Divisions in Louth, Meath, Kildare, and Wicklow. The planned changes will bring about greater efficiencies and effectiveness in facilitating the establishment and functioning of Joint Policing Committees. A detailed programme of work is currently being developed by An Garda Síochána to implement these planned changes for various Garda Divisions. This programme of work will also examine the geographical areas of district and sub-district stations arising from the regional and divisional boundary realignments set out in the plan and will set out a timetable for the establishment of the new divisions.