Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 579: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when it is expected that the reconfiguration of the Garda district and divisions within County Kildare are likely to become synonymous with the county boundaries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14432/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 581: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the extent to which it is intended to increase the Garda strength at all stations throughout County Kildare having particular regard to the need to combat increased crime levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14434/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 583: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of Garda stations throughout County Kildare currently open on a 24 hour basis; his proposals to increase the number of such stations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14436/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 579, 581 and 583 together.

I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that as of 31 March 2008, the latest date for which figures are readily available, the personnel strength of the Carlow/Kildare Garda Division was 408. 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. In that regard, the needs of Garda Stations throughout County Kildare will be fully considered by the Commissioner within the overall context of the needs of Garda Stations and Divisions throughout the country.

The opening hours for each station in the Carlow/Kildare Garda Division were outlined in a reply to Parliamentary Question No. 530 of 4 March, and the position remains unchanged. An increase in the opening hours of any Garda Station would necessitate the deployment of additional Garda personnel on indoor administrative duties who may be more effectively employed on outdoor policing duties.

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 new Garda Division in Kildare. 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.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 582: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when it is expected that the new Garda station at Leixlip, County Kildare, will become fully operational; the expected Garda strength at the station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14435/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Office for Public Works that the Garda Station in Leixlip, Co. Kildare is on target for completion in Autumn 2008.

It is the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner to allocate personnel throughout the Force taking everything into account. The situation will be kept under review and when additional personnel next become available the needs of the Garda Station referred to by the Deputy will be fully considered by him within the overall context of the needs of Garda Divisions throughout the country.