asked the Minister for Justice if he will state in respect of the Garda station at Finglas, Dublin, (a) the total number of men on duty during April, 1977, (b) the maximum number of gardaí on duty during any particular shift period and (c) the minimum number on duty during any particular shift period.

2.

asked the Minister for Justice if he will state in respect of the area covered by the Garda station at Finglas, Dublin, (a) the distance to the furthest point from the station and (b) the total population in the area.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. The strength of Finglas Garda station during the month of April, 1977, was 42. The population of the Finglas garda sub-district is estimated at 75,000 and the distance from the station to the furthest point in the sub-district is five and a half miles. It would be contrary to established practice to give details of the arrangements made by the Garda authorities for the deployment of the members in any particular area.

Do I take it from the Minister that he is not indicating the number of men on duty? Would the Minister agree that on occasions no more than a sergeant and three men were on duty in the station?

As I indicated, I am not prepared because it would be contrary to established practice, to give details of deployment in any area at any time.

If I tell the Minister that the position was as I outlined would he say if he considers that an acceptable or desirable situation?

If the Deputy is aware of this information I cannot see any point in him asking the question because the question seeks that information but, apparently, the Deputy has it.

If the Minister has the information there is not much point in him concealing it. This is a serious matter.

It is established practice, not originated by me, and one of long standing—I can see good reasons for it—not to give details of deployment.

Is the Minister happy that at all times there is a sufficiency of gardaí in the Finglas area to cater for a population of 80,000 spread over eight miles?

I share the Deputy's concern and I would like to see more gardaí in the Finglas and other districts in Dublin. As I have already stated, when the extra police are trained I expect the bulk of them—certainly a significant proportion of them —will be deployed in Dublin. I have no doubt that Finglas will have to get attention.

The Minister has accepted the need for additional gardaí in Finglas and I should like to know if he will look at the situation and ascertain whether or not additional overtime could be paid to the members in that area?

As I indicated in the course of the debate last week, I am looking at that possibility arising from the fact that budgetary arrangements were made for the extra 500 gardaí and provision has been made for their pay. While they will not all be on stream this year there will be some finance available in that regard and I intend to see that it is applied in making extra overtime available in Dublin.

The Minister, like his predecessors, is not giving figures about the number of men on duty and I can understand his reason but would he not agree that it would be an exceptional case to have only three men on duty? There are 40 men allocated to that station and, allowing for four shifts and a few members on leave, it is reasonable to assume that normally there should be eight or nine on duty for each shift?

It would be exceptional that so few, as mentioned by Deputy Tunney, would be on duty.

The Minister will have to accept that there is one unit of service in the Finglas station with one sergeant and four men. That is a fact and it cannot be denied.