Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 366: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the crime statistics across all headings for the years 1997 and 2004 for the areas of Bray, Wicklow and Arklow; the number of gardaí based in each of these areas in 1997 and 2004; the number of crimes detected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23248/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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As regards crime figures, the Deputy will be aware that 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 6 per 1,000 over the longer period of 11 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.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the table below shows the headline offences, by group, for the Garda district of Bray and for the Garda district of Gorey which includes the Arklow area and for Wicklow Garda district. It is important to note that the figures for 1997 are not comparable to statistics provided for the years 2000 onwards.

I have been informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of Arklow Garda station as at 31 December in each of the years 1997 to 2004 was as set out in the attached table:

The personnel strength of Bray Garda station as at 31 December in each of the years 1997 to 2004 was as set out in the attached table:

The personnel strength of Wicklow town Garda station as at 31 December in each of the years 1997 to 2004 was as set out in the table hereunder:

Local Garda management states that the existing available resources at the Garda stations to which I refer are adequate to meet the current policing needs of the area.

As regards Garda resources generally, I am 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 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 be drawing up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources. In this context, the needs of all Garda stations including those referred to by the Deputy 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 envisaged in the programme for Government. The programme identifies particular areas with significant drugs problems and large numbers 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.