Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 509: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will provide additional resources to Tallaght Garda station to allow for an effective response to problems identified at a meeting (details supplied) in Dublin 24 which was attended by local Gardaí; if he will provide assurances to the community that action will be taken on the issues raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14921/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, policing operations and the deployment of Garda resources are matters for the Garda Commissioner. I have outlined the position in relation to Garda personnel attached to Tallaght Garda station in response to a separate question today from the Deputy (No. 610 refers).

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the meeting referred to by the Deputy was attended by members of the Garda Community Policing Unit. I am further advised that plans have been put in place to increase patrols in the areas involved and steps are being taken to address the policing issues raised at the meeting.

There are a total of five Garda Youth Diversion Projects in place in the Tallaght area one of which was recently established in the area referred to by the Deputy. These projects are coordinated by the Tallaght Youth Service. Local Gardaí also participate in the Community Development Initiative and in the RAPID initiatives and a Juvenile Liaison Officer has been specifically allocated to the area.

I have been assured that local Garda management constantly monitors criminal activity and crime levels within the area and the allocation of personnel to the relevant District and Division is kept under regular review to ensure an appropriate level of policing exists. Liaison with Estate Management, Neighbourhood Watch, Residents Associations, Community Groups and local Neighbourhood Gardaí will continue to be maintained in order to effectively address the issues identified.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 510: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on whether Garda shift arrangements should be reviewed and altered to ensure that an adequate number of Gardaí are deployed between the hours of 10pm and 3am in urban areas here, and in Limerick particularly; and if he will raise the matter with the Garda Commissioner. [14924/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I have asked the Garda Inspectorate to examine the allocation of Garda resources generally and report on how the allocation can be improved. The terms of reference for the Inspectorate's study include:

an examination of the current resource allocation system for members of An Garda Síochána, including rostering and overtime, to see how well resources are made available to match demand for services and other operational requirements;

an examination of the current system of managing the availability of resources within An Garda Síochána for front line operational duties;

an analysis of the demand for policing services (emergency and non-emergency) and its distribution over time (through the day, week, and year). The geographical spread of such demand and the differing requirements in urban and rural locations should be examined;

an examination of potential alternative resource allocation systems to see whether there can be improvements in the match between availability of resources and the workload;

an examination of the consequences for resource allocation of issues such as special leave, term time working and medically restricted duties.

The Inspectorate has recently commenced its work in this area and, as with all studies carried out by the Garda Inspectorate, the Garda Commissioner will be fully consulted in the course of the work. I look forward to receiving the report of the Garda Inspectorate which will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.

As the Deputy is aware, following the Fitzgerald report into the need to address social disadvantage in parts of Limerick City, the Garda Commissioner has allocated significant additional policing resources to the affected areas.