Written answers

Thursday, 27 October 2005

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Garda Strength

5:00 pm

Photo of Joe CostelloJoe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 250: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí attached to Letterkenny Garda station; the number of community gardaí there; if the community garda who was recently transferred from Glencar will be replaced as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31112/05]

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I have been informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of Letterkenny Garda station as at 25 October, 2005 was 97, all ranks. The personnel strength of Letterkenny Garda station as at 31 December, 1997 was 90, all ranks. This represents an increase of seven, or 7.7%, in the number of personnel allocated to Letterkenny Garda station since that date.

There is currently one sergeant and one garda allocated to the community policing unit at Letterkenny Garda station. I understand from the Garda authorities that a garda in Letterkenny Garda station who was assigned to community policing duties in the Glencar area has recently been transferred but that two additional gardaí are due to be allocated to the community policing unit at Letterkenny in the coming weeks.

In 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 both attested gardaí and recruits in training, of 14,000 by the end of 2006.

The Garda Commissioner will now be drawing up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources, and in this context the needs of the Letterkenny area will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda areas throughout the country.

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