Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 207: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the net number of extra gardaí currently available and posted to the various stations in County Kildare; the way in which this compares with the number of five years ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21802/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 213: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the proposed location of the extra gardaí likely to be made available to the various Garda stations throughout County Kildare from the promised 2,000 extra gardaí; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21808/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 213 together.

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 station in County Kildare as at 30 June 2000 and 22 June 2005 was as set out in the table hereunder:

Garda personnel assigned throughout the country, together with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy are continually monitored and reviewed. Such monitoring ensures that optimum use is made of Garda resources and the best possible service is provided to the public. With 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 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 in County Kildare will be fully considered within the context of the needs of Garda stations throughout the country. Clearly, of course, 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. 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.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 208: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the net number of extra gardaí, excluding retirement, resignations and replacement who have taken up duty throughout the country in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21803/05]

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 Garda Síochána as at 31 December 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 and the net increase in each of those years on the previous year, was as set out in the table hereunder.

With 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 line basis, in line with the 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.