Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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39. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider providing additional resources to the Cavan/Monaghan Garda Division in order to deal with the cross border criminality that has resulted in a serious increase in cattle and machinery theft in the North Monaghan area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28226/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, the allocation of all resources, including personnel, is a matter entirely for the Garda Commissioner and I have no direct function in the matter. I have however been informed by the Garda authorities that the personnel strength of the Cavan/Monaghan Garda Division on 30 April 2013 was 342. There were also 23 Garda Reservists and just under 40 Garda Civilians attached to the Division. Divisional resources are further augmented, where necessary, by a number of Garda National Units such as the Garda National Drugs Unit (GNDU), the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI), the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) and other specialised units.

There is close and ongoing co-operation between the Garda Síochána and the PSNI on all aspects of policing, including combating organised crime. The Garda Commissioner and the Chief Constable of the PSNI, who are responsible for operational policing co-operation, have repeatedly emphasised that the close and high quality co-operation between their forces has been instrumental in preventing attacks, combating criminality and saving lives.

The two police forces operate a joint Cross-Border Policing Strategy which has as its aims to improve public safety throughout Ireland, to disrupt criminal activity and to enhance the policing capability of both police services on the island. All of these are important elements in enabling the two forces to work more effectively together in tackling crime and promoting community safety for all communities on this island.

Inter-agency cooperation is a key factor in combating the activities of organised criminal gangs operating on this island and the paramilitary groups who are inextricably linked to them.