Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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90. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which extended opening hours of Garda Síochána stations can be facilitated in areas experiencing criminal activity in County Kildare and throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17612/16]

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 resources, including personnel and decisions in relation to Garda station opening hours, in An Garda Síochána and I, as Minister, have no direct role in these matters.

I am informed that Garda management closely monitors the allocation of all resources in the context of crime trends, policing needs and other operational strategies in place on a District, Divisional and Regional level, to ensure that optimum use is made of Garda resources and that the best possible Garda service is provided to the public. Furthermore, decisions in relation to the hours for public access to Garda stations are taken with a view to ensuring that the optimum number of Garda personnel is available for policing duties within the community, thereby enhancing An Garda Síochána’s visibility within the community while providing an improved policing service.

I am further informed that the Kildare, Naas and Leixlip Garda Districts have four 24-hour Garda stations, located in Kildare, Newbridge, Naas and Leixlip, which ensures that a policing service is provided across the Kildare Division at all times, and that this situation will be kept under review.