Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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380. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a Garda is being transferred from a country station (details supplied) in County Offaly leaving the station with just one Garda; when will this vacancy be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28933/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Garda 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 demographics, 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 authorities that, as of 31 May 2013, the latest date which figures are readily available, there was one Garda assigned to Shinrone Garda Station. Shinrone Garda Station is in the Laois/Offaly Garda Division and the personnel strength of the Laois/Offaly Garda Division on that date was 294. There are also 31 Garda Reserves and 22 Civilians attached to the Laois/Offaly Garda 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.