Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí in the Kildare-Carlow division for each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16861/05]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí assigned to community work in the Kildare-Carlow division of the Garda Síochána; his plans to increase or provide members for such an initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16864/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 147 and 150 together.

I am informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of Garda resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of the Carlow-Kildare division as at 31 December 2002, 2003, 2004 and as at 18 May 2005 is as follows:

All gardaí have responsibility, inter alia, to deal with community policing issues as they arise. I am informed that there are currently four gardaí employed full time on community policing duties in the Carlow-Kildare division.

Garda resources assigned to the Carlow-Kildare division are continually monitored and reviewed, as part of overall policing arrangements and operational strategy. Such monitoring ensures that optimum use is made of Garda resources, and the best possible Garda service is provided to the general public.

In relation 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 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 now be drawing up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources. In this context, the needs of the Carlow-Kildare division will be fully considered within the context of the needs of Garda divisions throughout the country. Clearly the additional resources will be targeted at the areas of greatest need, as is envisaged in the programme for Government. The programme identifies 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 frontline, operational, high-visibility policing. They will have a real impact.