Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 246: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the crime statistics for the Rathmines Garda station area, Dublin, for each of the years between 1997 and 2004; the personnel strength by rank for each of these years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15688/05]

Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 247: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the crime statistics for the Donnybrook Garda station area, Dublin for each of the years between 1997 and 2004; the personnel strength by rank for each of these years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15689/05]

Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 248: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the crime statistics for the Irishtown Garda station area, Dublin for each of the years between 1997 and 2004; the personnel strength by rank for each of these years. [15690/05]

Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 249: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the crime statistics for the Harcourt Terrace Garda station area, Dublin for each of the years between 1997 and 2004; the personnel strength by rank for each of these years. [15691/05]

Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 250: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the crime statistics for the Pearse Street Garda station area, Dublin for each of the years between 1997 and 2004; the personnel strength by rank for each of these years. [15692/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 246 to 250, inclusive, together.

On becoming Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I arranged for the publication of headline crime statistics on a quarterly basis in order 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 six 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 tables show the headline offences, for the years 2000 to 2004 inclusive, for the Terenure Garda district which covers the Rathmines area, the Pearse Street Garda district, which covers the Harcourt Terrace area, and the Donnybrook Garda district which covers the Irishtown area. Comparable figures for the years 1997 to 1999 are not available.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the personnel strength by rank for each of the Garda stations requested by the Deputy is set out on the attached tables. The number of Garda personnel assigned to each station, together with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy, is continually monitored and reviewed. Such monitoring ensures that optimum use is made of Garda resources, and the best possible Garda service is provided to the general public. In this regard, I should like to mention that in addition to the specific resources available to above stations, there has also been a considerable increase since 1997 in the number of gardaí serving in National units which are available to all the stations in the DMR. Specialist Garda units such as the Garda National Drug Unit, the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Criminal Assets Bureau and the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation operating under the assistant commissioner in charge of national support services has enabled the Garda Síochána to tackle serious crime effectively. These specialist units work very closely with Garda operating at district and divisional level.

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 be drawing 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. 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.