Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 498: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason for the delays in the provision of bicycles, training, and consequent deployment of Garda mountain bike units in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council area. [30602/05]

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 six mountain bikes are allocated within the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council area and three sergeants and 12 gardaí are trained and equipped to use them.

Mountain bike units are engaged in mainstream policing in conjunction with the community policing units, concentrate on areas, such as parks and laneways which are more easily accessed by such transport and supplement beat and other mobile patrols within the council area. The mountain bike units have been very successful in tackling anti-socia and disorderly behaviour in local parks and estates and work well in conjunction with other units. Overall, the units have proven to be very successful owing to their ability to respond quickly and effectively and capacity to provide a high visibility presence. Mountain bike units have made a significant and positive contribution to a proactive approach in tackling crime. Garda management have received very positive feedback from the community on the work of these units.

Local management is very satisfied with the current allocation and deployment of these units and no delays have been experienced in the training of personnel or the provision of bicycles or equipment. Bicycles for the Garda mountain bike units are held in stock and are issued once the relevant training is completed.

With regard to Garda resources generally, the accelerated recruitment campaign to reach a record 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 attested gardaí and recruits in training of 14,000 by the end of 2006. The Garda Commissioner will draw up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources and the needs of the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council area will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda areas throughout the country.