Ned O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 696: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the proposals in place to call new Garda recruits for training from the panel of those already interviewed. [10340/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that it is proposed to induct 1,100 Garda recruits to the Garda college in 2005, consisting of four intakes of 275 recruits.

The first of these four intakes — 275 — commenced training on the week commencing 7 February, 2005. The remaining three intakes of 275 recruits are scheduled to commence training on 3 May 2005, 2 August 2005 and 7 November 2005. It is estimated that 523 Garda trainees will become attested members of the force in 2005. Current projections indicate that the total strength of the Garda Síochána as at 31 December 2005 will be 12,299 ,all ranks. Taking into account the projected number of retirements, the new recruitment drive will lead to a combined organisational strength, of both attested gardaí and recruits in training, of 14,000 as early as end 2006.

The commissioner will now draw up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources. Clearly the additional resources will be targeted at the areas of greatest need, as is envisaged in the programme for Government. The programme identifies in particular areas with a significant drugs problem and a large number of public order offences, but it will be possible to address other priorities as well, such as the need to very significantly increase the number of gardaí allocated to traffic duties as part of the new Garda traffic corps. One thing I have already promised is that the additional gardaí will not be put on administrative duties. They will be put directly into front line, operational, high-visibility policing. They will have a real impact.