Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 131: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the Garda strength in the years 2000, 2004 and the most recent date for which data are available in 2005 in each of the 18 Garda districts within the Dublin metropolitan areas and of the central units of the DMA. [17719/05]

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 each Garda district in the Dublin metropolitan area as at 31 December 2000, 2004 and at 23 May 2005 was as set out in the table.

There are no central units of the DMA. The only policing function which could be regarded as central within the Dublin metropolitan region is traffic policing. A number of national units are located in the Dublin metropolitan area, for example, Garda national immigration bureau, GNIB, Garda bureau of fraud investigations, GBFI, Criminal Assets Bureau, Garda technical bureau and so forth. These units provide specialised policing services on a nationwide basis and the tables above do not include the members included in these units.

As regards Garda resources generally, I am, of course, 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 draw up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources. In this context, the needs of each Garda district within the Dublin metropolitan area will be fully considered within the context of the needs of Garda districts 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 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 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.