Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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576. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of hours per week that Castlepollard Garda station is without a rostered garda; her plans to permanently increase the staffing complement; and the distance to the nearest available staffed Garda station when this station has no staff present. [37895/15]

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 am informed by the Garda Commissioner that Castlepollard Garda station's opening hours are 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. seven days a week, subject to available manpower. Outside of these hours, there is a public access call box (P.A.C.B.) with calls diverted to Mullingar Garda Station which is open on a twenty-four hour basis. Castlepollard Garda station forms part of the Westmeath Garda Division which has 245 Gardaí of which 4 Gardaí are assigned to the station. Mullingar Garda Station is approximately 20Km from Castlepollard.

An increase in the opening hours of any Garda Station would necessitate the deployment of additional Garda personnel on indoor administrative duties who may be more effectively employed on outdoor policing duties. It is the view of local Garda management that in this context Castlepollard Garda Station does not currently require to be operated on a twenty four hour basis.