Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the staffing levels at a Garda station (details supplied) in County Westmeath as of the 15 July; his plans for the staffing levels at the station; if there has been any reduction in Garda vehicles in the area; if Garda vehicles have been given a larger area of responsibility; his plans for Garda stations at Finea and Rathowen County Westmeath. [37159/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Commissioner is responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including vehicles, throughout the organisation and I have no direct function in the matter. This allocation of resources is constantly monitored in the context of crime trends, policing needs and other operational strategies in place on a District, Divisional and Regional level to ensure optimum use is made of Garda resources and the best possible Garda service is provided to the public.

I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of Castlepollard Garda Station on 31 July 2012, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 3. Castlepollard Garda Station forms part of the Westmeath Garda Division. The personnel strength of the Westmeath Garda Division, on the same date, was 253. There are also 18 Garda Reserves and 21 Civilians attached to the Westmeath Garda Division. These resources are augmented, when appropriate, by Gardaí from national units. I have been further informed that a Garda vehicle is allocated to the Castlepollard sub-district and that there has been no increase in the area to be covered by this vehicle. Cover is also provided by the Divisional Traffic Corps and District Detective Unit as and when the need arises. The Garda authorities state that they are satisfied that current policing arrangements make the best use of available resources in the delivery of a policing service to residents in the Castlepollard area.

With regard to Finea and Rathowen Garda Stations, the general position is that the Garda Commissioner is currently engaged in an assessment of the potential for improved efficiencies in the structure and organisation of the Garda Síochána as part of the preparation of the draft policing plan for 2013. This plan is due to be submitted to me by the end of October this year and I expect that it will contain proposals for the further rationalisation of Garda stations and Districts. In the meantime, it would be premature, in advance of its submission, to speculate on specific measures which it might contain.