Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 285: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, in the context of the reconfiguration of the Garda divisions, additional Garda resources have been allocated to Kinnegad, County Westmeath, in view of the increase in population in this area and its hinterland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7547/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Garda Síochána's Policing Plans for 2008 and 2009 contain the Garda Commissioner's proposals to realign Garda Divisional boundaries to make them coterminous with local authority boundaries to facilitate both local Garda and local authority management in the administration of Joint Policing Committees as provided for under Section 22(1) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that a project board was established to analyse the policing needs of the new Garda Division of Westmeath and that local Garda management is fully satisfied that effective and efficient policing will continue to be delivered in the areas affected by the proposed changes. I am further informed by the Garda authorities that Kinnegad Garda Station forms part of the Westmeath Garda Division which has a personnel strength of 239 Gardaí (all ranks) as at the 20th of February 2009. It is anticipated that an additional ten Gardaí (all ranks) will be allocated to the Westmeath Division in conjunction with the next allocation of Probationer Gardaí following attestation in the next month.