Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 325: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of community gardaí allocated to a division (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35372/08]

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 326: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his proposals to set up a dedicated community policing unit. [35374/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 325 and 326 together.

I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that as of 30th September 2008, the latest date for which figures are readily available, there were 698 members attached to the Community Policing Unit of An Garda Síochána and of these, there were 15 members attached to the Community Policing Unit of Tipperary Garda Division in the following stations:

It is, of course, the case that all Gardaí have a role to play in addressing community policing issues as and when the need arises. In that sense, community policing involves far more than a single unit within the Garda Síochána, and I agree with the view expressed by the Garda Inspectorate in their third report entitled "Policing in Ireland—Looking Forward" that community policing is a fundamental policing philosophy and that there is a strong foundation for it in Ireland. I am also looking forward to receiving from the Commissioner, in the near future, a copy of the final report of a working group developing proposals for a comprehensive model of rural and urban community policing.

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 allocation of Community Gardaí will be fully considered by the Commissioner within the overall context of the policing throughout the country.