Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 73: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he is satisfied that there is sufficient Garda personnel in the six Border counties to control the spate of bank and other robberies as well as the worrying bomb threats from dissident groups; his views on whether it is essential to maximise security to track down and remove such elements at an early stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5424/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The allocation of Garda resources, including the distribution of personnel, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner and senior Garda management. They are aided in this by a distribution model which indicates the most effective means of distributing Garda personnel and acts as a guide to Garda management decision making. It takes into account different policing variables, including crime trends, socio-economic factors, and census information.

The Deputy will understand that it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the specific details of Garda activities to combat the threat posed by paramilitary groups. It is the case, however, that close co-operation exists at all levels between the Garda Síochána and its counterparts in Northern Ireland in the context of countering and investigating the activities of so-called dissident groups.