Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 364: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí stationed in Wicklow town in 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2004; the number of crimes recorded and detected across all headings in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 in the Wicklow town area; if he will increase the number of gardaí in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15161/05]

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 Wicklow town Garda station as on 31 December in each of the years 1997 to 2004 was as follows.

Local Garda management states that the existing available resources at Wicklow Garda station are adequate to meet the present policing needs of the area.

On the issue of crime figures, the Deputy will be aware that on becoming Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I arranged for the publication of headline crime statistics on a quarterly basis to improve the quality of information available to the public. While caution should be exercised in interpreting levels of crime between quarters, I am pleased to note that during my term of office as Minister, the quarterly crime rate has decreased from 6.7 per 1,000 population to 6 per 1,000 over the longer period of eleven quarters for which figures are available. This trend is reflected throughout most Garda districts in the country. In interpreting these figures, account has also to be taken of the introduction of the new PULSE computer system by the Garda Síochána in 1999 which led to more complete and comprehensive recording of crimes reported than was previously the case. The Deputy will also wish to be aware that, taking into account the significant increase in our population since 1995, the headline crime rate has fallen from 29 per 1,000 population in 1995 to 25 per 1,000 population in 2004. The following table shows the headline offences for the Garda district of Wicklow for the years 2000 to 2004. The figures provided for 2004 are provisional and are, therefore, subject to change.

Concerning Garda resources generally, I am 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 commitment in this regard in An Agreed Programme for Government. 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 draw up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources. In this context, the needs of the Wicklow district will be fully considered within the context of the needs of Garda districts and sub-districts 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 areas with a significant drugs problem and a large number of public order offences but it will be possible to address other priorities, such as the need to increase significantly 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 and will have a real impact.