John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 1017: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí per 1,000 people in Cork, Dublin, Limerick, Galway and Waterford for the years 2002, 2003 and 2004. [25534/05]

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, all ranks, of the Dublin metropolitan region and the Cork City, Cork west, Cork north, Limerick, Galway west and Waterford-Kilkenny divisions as on 31 December 2002, 2003 and 2004 was as set out in the following table. The corresponding population figures are drawn from the 2002 census of population. It should be noted that the allocation of Garda personnel is determined by a number of factors including population, crime trends and other operational policing needs of the area.

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 1018: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí in the force on 1 January 2005; the number who are expected to join the force during 2005; the number who will be retiring; and the estimated numbers in the force on 31 December 2005. [25535/05]

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 on 1 January 2005 was 12,209, all ranks. I have been further informed that 825 trainees have been admitted to the Garda college to begin training to date in 2005. A further 275 trainees are due to begin training at the Garda college before 31 December 2005. A total of 370 members, all ranks, have resigned, retired or otherwise left the Garda Síochána to date in 2005. A further 22 members will retire compulsorily and a further 17, thus far, have indicated they wish to retire voluntarily by 31 December 2005.

Garda management states that, based on the foregoing, the projected strength, all ranks, of the Garda Síochána on 31 December 2005 is 12,315. I might add that the accelerated recruitment campaign of 1,100 Garda recruits each year to reach a force strength of 14,000, in line with the commitment in An Agreed Programme for Government, is fully on target. This will lead to a combined strength of both attested gardaí and recruits in training of 14,000 by the end of 2006 or early 2007.