Written answers
Wednesday, 2 November 2005
Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
Garda Deployment
9:00 pm
Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 502: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí stationed in counties Longford and Westmeath division for the last 20 years. [31816/05]
Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I have been informed by the Garda authorities, responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of the Longford-Westmeath division as at 31 December in each year since 1985 and as at 28 October 2005 is set out in the following table.
The division had its lowest number of officers in 1997 during and after the term of office of the Administration before last. The personnel strength has since increased by an additional 16 officers and will further increase as a result of the current recruitment campaign.
| Year | Strength |
| 31/12/1985 | 256 |
| 31/12/1986 | 256 |
| 31/12/1987 | 262 |
| 31/12/1988 | 252 |
| 31/12/1989 | 248 |
| 31/12/1990 | 244 |
| 31/12/1991 | 249 |
| 31/12/1992 | 258 |
| 31/12/1993 | 248 |
| 31/12/1994 | 250 |
| 31/12/1995 | 242 |
| 31/12/1996 | 241 |
| 31/12/1997 | 232 |
| 31/12/1998 | 238 |
| 31/12/1999 | 237 |
| 31/12/2000 | 241 |
| 31/12/2001 | 235 |
| 31/12/2002 | 240 |
| 31/12/2003 | 243 |
| 31/12/2004 | 243 |
| 28/10/2005 | 248 |
The overall strength of the Garda Síochána as at 31 December 1985 and 28 October 2005 was 11,182, all ranks, and 12,316, all ranks, respectively, representing an increase of 1,134, or 10%, in that period. The distribution of Garda personnel throughout the country, together with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy, are a matter for the Garda Commissioner and are continually monitored and reviewed, taking account of demographic and crime trends. Such monitoring ensures optimum use is made of Garda resources, and the best possible Garda service is provided to the general public.
Several Garda national units have been established during the years such as the Garda national immigration bureau, the Garda bureau of fraud investigations, the criminal assets bureau and other specialist units. These units provide specialised policing services on a nationwide basis and augment the policing services provided at divisional level. The personnel strength of the national units is over and above the strength of the various operational Garda divisions.
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 Longford-Westmeath division will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda divisions throughout the country.
Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 503: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí appointed to each Garda station in the counties Longford and Westmeath division for each of the past 20 years. [31817/05]
Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities, responsible for the detailed allocation of Garda resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength, all ranks, of each Garda station in the Longford-Westmeath division at the end of each year 1997 to 2004, inclusive, and as at 28 October 2005 is set out in the following table.
| Station | '97 | '98 | '99 | '00 | '01 | '02 | '03 | '04 | 28/10/05 |
| Ardagh | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Athlone | 42 | 47 | 46 | 47 | 49 | 46 | 46 | 47 | 49 |
| Ballinahown | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Ballinalee | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Ballymahon | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Ballymore | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Ballynacargy | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Castlepollard | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Castletown Geoghegan | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Delvin | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Drumlish | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Edgeworthstown | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Glasson | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Granard | 22 | 22 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 29 |
| Kenagh | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Kilbeggan | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Killucan | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Kinnegad | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Lanesboro | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 |
| Longford | 39 | 38 | 36 | 37 | 33 | 40 | 45 | 44 | 45 |
| Moate | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Mullingar | 69 | 71 | 71 | 75 | 73 | 72 | 71 | 72 | 73 |
| Multyfarnham | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Newtowncashel | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Rathowen | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Rochfortbridge | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Smear | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Tarmonbarry | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
The number of gardaí serving in each Garda station in the Longford-Westmeath division prior to 1997 is not readily available and can only be obtained by the disproportionate expenditure of Garda time and resources.
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 Longford-Westmeath division will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda divisions throughout the country.
Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 504: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of Garda recruits who graduated from Templemore College who have been assigned to Garda stations in counties Longford and Westmeath in each of the past five years. [31818/05]
Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am advised by the Garda authorities, responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that Garda recruits are assigned to stations as serving members of the force upon attestation. The number of gardaí allocated to Garda stations in the Longford-Westmeath division following attestation in each of the last five years is set out in the following table.
| Year | Allocation |
| 2001 | 10 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| Total | 23 |
In addition, the divisional resources of the Longford-Westmeath division have been augmented by the permanent transfer of members of the Garda Síochána allocated by way of interdivisional transfer.
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 Longford-Westmeath division will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda divisions throughout the country.
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