Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 618: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to previous parliamentary questions in May 2005, the steps he will take to allocate sufficient garda personnel to Killucan and the surrounding areas to replace a sergeant who was appointed a detective sergeant and a garda who retired; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Garda Síochána is awaiting additional gardaí to be allocated to this division in order to be in a position to replace these two gardaí in an area with an expanding population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22698/05]

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 Killucan Garda station as at 24 June 2005 was one garda.

As I stated in my reply to Question No. 263 of 18 May 2005, it is the responsibility of the divisional officer to allocate personnel within his or her division.

I am advised that cognisance is taken of retirements, etc., during each allocation of probationer gardaí, and that the needs of the Longford-Westmeath division will be fully considered during future allocations of probationer gardaí and, where possible, by way of permanent transfer of members to the division.

In relation to Garda resources generally, I am very pleased 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 the Longford-Westmeath division will be fully considered in 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 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.