Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

116. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality that services provided at Garda stations in Dunleer and Clogherhead, County Louth will be maintained at their current level; and that there will be no reduction in the numbers of Garda personnel, opening hours or services provided at each Garda station. [4233/15]

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

As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel, including community Gardaí, 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.

I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of Dunleer and Clogherhead Garda stations on 31 December 2014, the latest date for which figures are readily available was five and four persons respectively. Dunleer and Clogherhead forms part of the Drogheda Garda District in the Louth Garda Division. The personnel strength of Drogheda Garda District and the Louth Garda Division on the same date was 101 and 281, respectively. There are also 52 Garda Reserves and 23 civilians attached to the Louth Division of which 23 Garda Reserves and 12 civilians are attached to the Drogheda District.

As the Deputy will be aware, 100 new recruits entered training at the Garda College in Templemore in September 2014, the first intake of Garda recruits since 2009. This was followed by an intake of a further 100 new recruits in December. A further intake of 100 is due to enter training in the next few days. This will bring to 300 the number of recruits in the Garda College since last September and is a measure of this Government's commitment to the Garda Síochána. The first intake of recruits will attest as members of An Garda Síochána in May of this year and will be assigned to Garda Stations by the Garda Commissioner. The Garda Commissioner, will of course, continue to keep the needs of the Dunleer and Clogherhead Garda station under review within the overall context of the needs of Garda Divisions throughout the country.