Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 789: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he expects to increase the opening hours of the various Garda stations throughout County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11237/05]

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 the personnel strength of the Carlow-Kildare division as at the 11 of April, 2005 was 324, all ranks.

The number of hours each Garda station in County Kildare are open during a 24-hour period is as set out as follows:

Local Garda management state that resources are utilised to ensure that stations are opened for the periods outlined, in conjunction with ensuring car patrols, foot patrols and all other areas of policing are also addressed.

I am further informed that local Garda management do not intend to extend the opening hours of any of the stations in County Kildare attached to the Carlow-Kildare division, at this time, as it is considered that the extension of the opening hours of any of those stations would necessitate the employment of more staff on indoor administrative duties who may be employed more productively on outdoor policing duties.

In regard to Garda resources generally, I am very pleased that the Government has 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.

The Commissioner will now be drawing up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources. In this context, the needs of the various Garda stations throughout County Kildare will be fully considered within the context of the needs of Garda stations throughout the country. 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.