Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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158. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the opening hours of a Garda station (details supplied); his plans to increase the opening hours of the station; if there are works planned to make the station more accessible to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28465/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is primarily responsible for operational decisions in respect of the effective and efficient use of resources available to An Garda Síochána including the opening hours of Garda stations and I, as Minister, have no role in relation to the matter.

I understand that Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the opening hours of Ballincollig Garda Station, subject to availability, are Monday to Saturday 12pm to 8pm; and Sunday 12pm to 2pm.

Ballincollig Garda Station forms part of the Cork City Division. I am informed by the Commissioner that the number of Gardaí assigned to that Division on 31 May 2018, the latest date for which information is readily available, was 678, of whom 19 were assigned to Ballincollig Garda Station. There are also 42 Garda Reserves and 71 Garda civilian staff attached to the Division. When appropriate, the work of local Gardaí is supported by a number of Garda national units such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Armed Support Units, the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.

As the Deputy will be aware, the programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda accommodation is progressed by the Garda authorities working in close co-operation with the Office of Public Works (OPW), which has the responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation.

I understand from An Garda Síochána that the OPW has recently commenced an access survey on Ballincollig Garda Station and that the OPW has advised that following the survey, a decision will be made on what works, if any, may be undertaken to improve public access at the station.