Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister wishes to thank the Senator for raising this important matter. The House will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, transport and other facilities throughout the organisation and the Minister has no function in the matter. This allocation of resources is constantly monitored by the Commissioner and her senior management in the context of demographics, crime trends, policing needs and other operational strategies in place on a district, divisional and regional level to ensure optimum use is made of Garda resources.

Specifically in relation to the Louth division, the Minister has been informed by the Commissioner's office that 279 gardaí are assigned to the division, of which four are assigned to Blackrock Garda station. There are also 46 reserve gardaí and 22 civilians attached to the division. When members attached to Blackrock Garda station are not on duty, telephone calls are transferred to Dundalk Garda station.

Last September the Government oversaw the first recruitment of new gardaí since 2009. The Garda College was reopened for new recruitments and the Government is committed to not letting it close again. To date, 300 new recruits have entered the Garda College, and the first of these joined the force as sworn members last week. The Minister also recently received sanction from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, for the recruitment of a further 250 new gardaí in the coming months. The additional recruitment will bring to 550 the total number of gardaí who will have been recruited by the Government between September 2014 and October 2015. This signifies the determination of this Government to deliver an effective, responsive police service to protect our communities and respond to emerging crime trends.

The allocation of resources within the Louth division continues to be closely monitored by Garda management to ensure that, within existing constraints, optimum use is made of resources to provide the best possible Garda service to the public and to address the policing needs of communities. Garda management is satisfied that a full and comprehensive policing service is being delivered to the communities in the area concerned and that current structures in place meet the requirements of the delivery of an effective and efficient policing service. The Garda Commissioner will, of course, continue to keep the needs of the Louth Garda division under review within the overall context of the needs of Garda divisions throughout the country.

The Minister is determined that the resources of An Garda Síochána will be used in the best, most effective and efficient way possible.The Minister is confident that the primary Garda objective of combating crime will continue to be achieved and that despite pressure on the public finances it will be possible for the force to operate to the optimum benefit of our communities in a manner that will facilitate the prevention and detection of offences.