Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 166: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of a garda station (details supplied) in County Kildare; if the station is to be refurbished; the number of gardaí in the station; if this is the full complement as determined by the Grada Commissioner; if there are plans for the placement of a community garda at the station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20817/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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As part of the alignment of Divisional boundaries the station referred to by the Deputy transferred to the Naas District in June 2008. The detailed allocation of Garda resources, including personnel, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner to be decided on the basis of his identified operational needs. I am advised that the personnel strength at the Station was doubled from 1 Garda to 2 Gardaí in August 2008.

The Commissioner recently launched a new National Model of Community Policing for An Garda Síochána. A National Community Policing Office will be established within the Garda Community Relations Section and it is intended that every District Officer throughout the country will take ownership of community policing within their area of responsibility. Community Policing personnel will be appointed to each Community Policing Area which is to be designated at local level in consultation with the National Community Policing Office.

Any plans for the refurbishment of the existing station will be considered by the Garda authorities in the context of overall priorities and available maintenance budgets.