Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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163. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality Garda numbers in County Louth over the past five years; if he will provide a breakdown, in particular for the Dundalk South and Carlingford areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9749/14]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of all personnel among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources.

Senior Garda Management is satisfied that a comprehensive policing service continues to be delivered in the Louth Division and that current structures in place meet the requirement to deliver an effective and efficient policing service to the community.

Details of the number of Gardaí assigned to the Louth Division on 31 December 2009 to 2013 and on 31 January 2014, the latest date for which figures are readily available, are set out in the table below:

Garda (All Ranks)

Station	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014
Ardee	30	31	28	28	27	27
Castlebellingham	3	3	4	4	4	4
Collon	7	6	7	6	6	6
Louth	1	1	1	1	1	1
Clougherhead	4	4	4	4	4	4
Drogheda	110	100	98	93	93	93
Dunleer	4	5	5	5	5	5
Blackrock	4	5	5	6	4	4
Carlingford	67	6	6	6	6	6
Drumad	6	7	6	7	7	7
Dundalk	118	133	130	123	120	120
Hackballscross	8	8	6	5	5	5
Omeath	5	5	5	4	4	4
Total	306	314	305	292	286	286