Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which Garda strength and the operation of same at various Garda stations throughout the country continues to be monitored with particular reference to the need to ensure the retention of the maximum spread and location of Garda stations and personnel to ensure the adequacy of the authorities to deal with modern criminality with particular reference to the need to have a strong and visible presence in both urban and rural areas in view of the mobility of modern criminal elements to locate where a Garda presence is needed; if he will ensure that any revision or reorganisation of structures will have due regard for such fundamental issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46512/12]

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 personnel, 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.

The Commissioner is currently preparing his policing plan for 2013 and I expect delivery of it shortly. While it would be premature to speculate on what it might contain, I do expect that it will contain measures dealing with the further rationalisation of the Garda station network. It is important to remember that when preparing the plan, the Commissioner must, under the Act, have regard to a number of matters, including the resources available to the Garda Síochána, the priorities for the Garda Síochána as determined by the Minister, relevant Government policy, and the Garda Síochána's own strategy statement. In drawing up arrangements for the policing of the State each year, the Commissioner and his senior management team also take a number of other factors into account, including population, crime levels and trends, and policing priorities. The objective is to ensure that optimum use is made of Garda resources and the most effective policing service is provided to the public.