Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)

Question 357: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide additional gardaí and resources to counteract the increase in murders, gun crime, tiger kidnapping and crimes in general. [17069/11]

Alan Shatter (Minister, Department of Justice, Equality and Defence; Dublin South, Fine Gael)

Responsibility for the allocation of resources, including personnel, within the Force rests with the Garda Commissioner, in consultation with his senior management team. Resource levels are constantly monitored, in conjunction with crime trends and the situation is kept under continuing review to ensure optimum use is made of all resources and the best possible Garda service is provided to the public.I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of An Garda Síochána on 31 May 2011, the latest date for which figures are readily available was 14,262.

Multi-disciplinary approaches are utilised to ensure the activities of individuals and groups involved in all criminal enterprises are effectively targeted, including the use of the Proceeds of Crime, the Criminal Justice (Money-laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act, 2010, together with the Criminal Assets Bureau, whose powers I plan to strengthen in relation to forfeiting the proceeds of crime, including drug trafficking and dealing. Members of An Garda Síochána utilise all available legislation, including the additional legislative provisions introduced by the Oireachtas in 2009 which amended the Criminal Justice Act, 2006 relating to organised crime. This integrated approach adopts best practice in implementing a co-ordinated use of Garda resources and using available criminal legislation to its fullest extent.

The Programme for Government contains a number of commitments in relation to policing matters which the Government fully intend to implement.