Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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124. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to set out the current levels of service being provided by An Garda Síochána in a Garda station in an area (details supplied) in County Cork; if the hours which this station is manned by Garda personnel have been reduced; if she is aware of the strong opposition of the community to the downgrading of the service in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35005/15]

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

I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of the Macroom Garda District, in which the station the Deputy is referring to is situated, was 65 on the 31 August 2015 the latest date for which figures are readily available. The Garda Station in question is open to the public Monday to Saturday from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m and there is one Garda assigned to it. These arrangements are subject to available manpower. Outside of these hours, persons who require a policing service can call the District office in Macroom which is open on a 24 hour basis. The Garda Commissioner has informed me that there are no plans to downgrade or change the opening hours of the Garda Station in question.

I am advises that local Garda Management closely monitors the deployment of resources, patrols and operational strategies in place for the area concerned, to ensure the best possible Garda service is provided to the public.