Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

322. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí deployed in County Laois; and her plans to increase this number. [40000/14]

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

323. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will increase the number of gardaí based in Mountrath station, County Laois, from the current level of two. [40001/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 322 and 323 together.

As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of all resources, including 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.

Specifically in relation to the Laois/Offaly Division, as of 31 August 2014 there were 281 Gardaí assigned to the Division, of which 3 Gardaí are assigned to Mountrath Garda station. The District is also supported by 27 Garda Reserves, and 22 civilians. A full breakdown of the Division is set out in the table overleaf. These resources are augmented, when appropriate, by Gardaí from national units such as the Garda National Drug Unit and the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

Garda Management will continue to appraise the policing and administrative strategy employed in the Laois/Offaly Division with a view to ensuring an effective Garda service is maintained and when additional resources next become available the needs of the Division will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda Divisions throughout the country.

31 August 2014