Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 779: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the net number of extra gardaí that have been provided in line with the commitment given in the programme for Government to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11227/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The An Agreed Programme for Government commitment in regard to Garda numbers states: "We will complete the current expansion of the Garda Síochána and increase recruitment so that the numbers will increase by a further 2,000."

When I became Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in June 2002, the strength of the Garda Síochána stood at 11,748. After June 2002, and despite the cap on public service numbers announced in the budget of 2002, I proceeded with Government approval to increase the strength of the force to 12,200 by 2004, and I am pleased to say that target was achieved on time.

The House will be aware that, in October 2004, the Government approved my proposal to increase the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 members on a phased basis, in line with the An Agreed Programme for Government commitment in this regard. This is a key commitment in the programme for Government, and its implementation will significantly strengthen the operational capacity of the force.

As a basis for implementing this commitment the commissioner has drawn up a project plan which has three key elements: the recruitment of sufficient additional Garda trainees to achieve the target strength; relocating the in-service training facilities from the Garda college so that the college can concentrate on training recruits; expanding the facilities at the Garda college.

A new recruitment campaign for the Garda Síochána was launched in November 2004. 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 indicated that the total strength of the Garda Síochána as at 31 of 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.

I have been informed by the Garda authorities that 1,421 recruits have graduated from the Garda college since 6 June, 2002. The figure refers to those who have successfully completed the student-probationer education and training programme. I am further informed that a total of 1,235 members, all ranks, have resigned, retired or otherwise left the Garda Síochána since the 6 June, 2002. A total of 1,679 recruits have been attested to the Garda Síochána in the same period.

Garda trainees are attested to the force on successful completion of phase three of their training. On attestation, Garda trainees become serving members of the force. Thus the serving strength of the force at any given time includes those who have been attested following completion of phase three of their training but have not yet formally graduated — formal graduation takes place following the completion of the fifth and final phase of training. The strength of the force has therefore increased by 444 members since June 2002.

The Commissioner will now draw up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources that are coming on stream. 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. I have already promised that the additional gardaí will not be put on administrative duties. They will be put directly into frontline, operational, high-visibility policing. They will have a real impact.