Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 353: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the population growth that has taken place in Rathcoole, Saggart and the City West area over the past five years and the pressures this places on Rathcoole Garda Station; the way he will respond to this pressure in consultation with the Garda Commissioner; his views on whether the station warrants being brought back to a 24 hour service; if a new, more suitable station needs to be built; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35730/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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It is the view of Garda management that the areas in question are adequately covered by Gardaí from Clondalkin, Tallaght and Rathcoole stations which, at the end of September, had personnel strengths of 101, 187 and 28 respectively. Rathcoole Garda station is open to the public between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. (closed between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.). However, patrols are performed on a 24 hour basis from the station by uniform and plain-clothes personnel, including detective, Community Policing and Mountain-bike units. Any extension of the current opening hours of Rathcoole Garda station would restrict the mobile service being provided to the local residential and business communities. The situation will continue to be monitored and kept under constant review. The policing accommodation needs of the station will be considered in the context of the Garda Accommodation Programme Board which has been established under the chairmanship of the Chief Administration Officer to prepare a long-term accommodation strategy for the Force.

It is the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner to allocate personnel throughout the Force taking everything into account. In that regard, the needs of the areas referred to by the Deputy will be fully considered by the Commissioner within the overall context of policing throughout the country.