Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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575. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her Department's plans to upgrade Castlepollard Garda station in County Westmeath, which is in a very poor state of disrepair; and the steps she will take to increase the number of Garda personnel serving in Castlepollard, where the complement in the station has been reduced from five to two units. [37853/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Garda Station Building and Refurbishment Programme 2016-2021 which I announced recently with my colleague the Minister of State at the Office of Public Works is based on agreed priorities which are established by An Garda Síochána. Over thirty locations around the country will benefit from the Programme which includes major refurbishment of stations/facilities including facilities for meeting victims of crime; essential remedial works to existing stations; development of large scale property and exhibit management stores and the upgrade of cells and provision of improved custody management facilities. The Programme will be delivered by the Garda Authorities in cooperation with the Office of Public Works (OPW) which has responsibility for capital expenditure in this area. In this context, I am advised by An Garda Síochána that there are currently no plans to refurbish Castlepollard Garda Station.

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 am informed by the Garda Commissioner that Castlepollard Garda station forms part of the Westmeath Garda Division which has 245 Gardaí of which 4 Gardaí are assigned to the station.