Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 441: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of Gardaí stationed at Ballivor, County Meath; the opening times of the station; if he will commit extra resources to this station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7877/08]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 445: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of Gardaí stationed at Athboy, County Meath; the opening times of the station; if he will commit extra resources to this station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7883/08]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 446: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of Gardaí stationed at Oldcastle, County Meath; the opening times of the station; if he will commit extra resources to this station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7884/08]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 447: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of Gardaí stationed at Enfield, County Meath; the opening times of the station; if he will commit extra resources to this station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7885/08]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 448: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of Gardaí stationed at Summerhill, County Meath; the opening times of this station; if he will commit extra resources to this station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7886/08]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 449: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí stationed at Longwood, County Meath; the opening times of the station; if he will commit extra resources to this station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7887/08]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 450: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of Gardaí stationed at Trim, County Meath; the opening times of this station; if he will commit extra resources to this station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7888/08]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 451: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of Gardaí stationed at Crossakeel, County Meath; the opening times of this station; if he will commit extra resources to this station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7889/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 441 and 445 to 451, inclusive, together.

As of 31 January 2008, the latest date for which figures are readily available, the personnel strength and the opening times of each of the Garda Stations referred to by the Deputy was as follows:

Subject to manpower availability, Crossakeel Garda Station is open to the public for 2 hours, 3 days a week. When the station is unmanned, call diversion is in place to the District Headquarters at Kells. 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. An increase in the opening hours of these Stations would necessitate the employment of additional Garda personnel on indoor administrative duties who may be more effectively employed on outdoor policing duties.

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 referred to by the Deputy will be fully considered by the Commissioner within the overall context of the needs of Garda stations throughout the country.

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 a Garda Division in Meath. 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.

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 442: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí stationed at Clonmellon, County Westmeath; the opening times of the station; if he will commit extra resources to this station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7880/08]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 443: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí stationed at Castlepollard, County Westmeath; the opening times of the station; if he will commit extra resources to this station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7881/08]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 444: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí stationed at Delvin, County Westmeath; the opening times of the station; if he will commit extra resources to this station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7882/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 442 to 444, inclusive, together.

I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that on 31 January 2008 (the latest date for which figures are readily available), the personnel strength and the opening times of each of the Garda Stations referred to by the Deputy was as set out in the table hereunder:

The Garda Commissioner has also informed me that there is no Garda Station in Clonmellon. However, the area is policed by Gardaí attached to Delvin Garda Station. 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. An increase in the opening hours of these Stations would necessitate the employment of additional Garda personnel on indoor administrative duties who may be more effectively employed on outdoor policing duties.

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 referred to by the Deputy will be fully considered by the Commissioner within the overall context of the needs of Garda stations throughout the country. 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 a Garda Division in Westmeath.

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.