To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the population growth that has taken place in Rathcoole, Saggart and the City West area over the past five years and the pressures this places on Rathcoole Garda Station; the way he will respond to this pressure in consultation with the Garda Commissioner; his views on whether the station warrants being brought back to a 24 hour service; if a new, more suitable station needs to be built; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Reply:        

It is the view of Garda management that the areas in question are adequately covered by Gardai from Clondalkin, Tallaght and Rathcoole stations which, at the end of September, had personnel strengths of 101, 187 and 28 respectively. Rathcoole Garda station is open to the public between 10am and 6pm (closed between 1pm and 2pm). However, patrols are performed on a 24 hour basis from the station by uniform and plain-clothes personnel, including detective, Community Policing and Mountain-bike units. Any  extension  of the current opening hours of Rathcoole Garda station would restrict the mobile service being provided to the local  residential and business communities. The situation will continue  to  be  monitored and kept under constant review. The
policing  accomodation  needs of the station will be considered iin  the context of the Garda Accomodation Programme Board which has  been  established  under  the  chairmanship  of  the Chief  Administration  Officer  to  prepare  a  long-term accomodation strategy for the Force.  It  is the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner to allocate  personnel  throughout the Force taking everything into account. In  that  regard,  the  needs  of  the areas referred to by the
Deputy  will be fully considered by the Commissioner within the overall context of policing throughout the country.