192 Mr. Reynolds asked the Minister for Justice her views on whether any decline in the reduction of gardaí in the Longford area would only heighten the already current problem in view of the fact that there has been a rising tide in drug-related crime in many parts of County Longford, and a progressive step of any reduction of Garda presence would only exacerbate the situation in relation to the possibility that the strength of the Edgeworthstown, County Longford, Garda station may be reduced to one garda. [2813/97]

The Garda authorities are responsible for the detailed deployment of Garda personnel and resources to individual areas. They have informed me that the current strength of Edgeworthstown Garda Station is two sergeants and four gardaí. The Garda authorities have stated that there is nothing to support the Deputy's suggestion that there has been a "rising tide" of drug-related crime in many parts of County Longford nor is there any evidence to suggest that drug related crime in the county has increased over the past 12 months. The Garda authorities have informed me that they are satisfied that the current deployment of resources in the Edgeworthstown area is adequate to meet its policing requirements.