Local Fianna Fáil TD Robert Troy and Fianna Fáil Councillor John Shaw have expressed their concern over garda resources in Kinnegad, which is in the Mullingar Garda District.

Deputy Troy has asked the Minister for Justice to ensure the necessary resources are available for a Garda patrol car for Kinnegad Garda Station and has also questioned the Minister about the impact of pending retirements on the manpower available at the station.

Deputy Troy commented: “Minister Alan Shatter has informed me that “the personnel strength of Kinnegad Garda Station and Mullingar Garda District, on the latest date for which figures are available, was 4 and 160 respectively. The District is also supported by 16 Garda Reserves and 14 civilian staff.” However the Minister has failed to give any guarantee on the strength of the force operating in the Mullingar District. I am concerned, and I know many people in the community who are worried, about the potential impact that retirements within the force will have on policing in the area and the number of Gardaí who will be available on duty to respond to any serious incidents.

“In particular I questioned Minister Shatter about the provision of a patrol car for Kinnegad Garda Station and I am not reassured by the Minister’s response. The Minister has informed me that he understands that “specific details in relation to the deployment of the new Garda transport have yet to be fully finalised but the Deputy can be assured that the vehicles will be allocated as effectively as possible in line with operational circumstances, including the requirements of area referred to by the Deputy.”

“The fact is Minister Shatter has slashed community resources over the last three years. While I welcome the fact that there is some investment in the Garda fleet now there is no denying this is coming from a very low base. The Minister must be in a position to ensure that the 305 new Garda vehicles purchased towards the end of 2013, at a cost of €5 million, are allocated to the areas that are most in need.

“I have been working closely with my party colleague Councillor John Shaw on this issue. We have both received numerous representations from concerned residents in Kinnegad on illegal behaviour. Kinnegad is third largest town in Westmeath and the Minister needs to ensure that there are adequate garda resources. Our local Gardaí are performing extremely well under very difficult circumstances and they need greater support from government not to be left short of manpower and essential resources.”

*Please see below the Parliamentary Question to the Minister form Justice Alan Shatter TD

QUESTION NO:  552

DÁIL QUESTION

addressed to the Minister for Justice and Equality (Mr. Shatter)

by Deputy Robert Troy

for WRITTEN on Tuesday, 25th February, 2014.

*  To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will make the necessary resources available for a Garda car for Kinnegad Garda Station; if he will confirm that there will be no reduction in staffing levels in this station due to forthcoming retirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

– Robert Troy

REPLY.

The Deputy will be aware that the allocation of all resources in An Garda Síochana, including vehicles and personnel, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner and his senior management team in the light of identified operational demands.

Garda management closely monitors the operational strategies in place on a District, Divisional and Regional level to ensure that the optimum use is made of available resources and that the best possible Garda service is provided to the public.

Kinnegad Garda Station forms part of the Mullingar Garda District and I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of Kinnegad Garda Station and Mullingar Garda District, on the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 4 and 160 respectively. The District is also supported by 16 Garda Reserves and 14 civilian staff.

Responsibility for the efficient deployment of official Garda vehicles in each Division is assigned to the Divisional Officer, who may allocate vehicles between stations, as required by operational circumstances. The Deputy will appreciate that a degree of flexibility in allocating and re-allocating vehicles among stations, so as to best match the allocation of resources with policing priorities, is essential to the efficient management of the Garda fleet.

I am, of course, conscious of the importance of the Garda fleet and, in that regard, the Deputy will be aware that I recently secured a further €9m for investment in the fleet. This investment resulted in the purchase of 305 new Garda vehicles towards the end of 2013, at a cost of €5 million. These were in addition to the 133 new Garda vehicles which had already been procured during the year. The remaining €4 million has been made available for the purchase and fit out of Garda vehicles in 2014.

I understand that specific details in relation to the deployment of the new Garda transport have yet to be fully finalised but the Deputy can be assured that the vehicles will be allocated as effectively as possible in line with operational circumstances, including the requirements of area referred to by the Deputy.