Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 501: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí in service at the end of each of the past ten years and his estimate of the number of gardaí that will be in service on 31 December 2005. [30605/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources including personnel, that the number of gardaí that were in service, all ranks, at the end of each of the past ten years was as set out in the following table. The estimated number of gardaí, all ranks, that will be in service on 31 December 2005 is also set out.

In terms of 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 in this context the overall needs of the Garda Síochána will be fully considered.