Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 213: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí available on the beat or in patrol vehicles between 12 midnight and 8 a.m. in the Dublin metropolitan division and throughout the greater Dublin area; his plans to increase this number in line with demographic changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35953/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources including personnel, that the personnel strength in all ranks of each of the six operational Garda divisions in the Dublin metropolitan region as at 21 November 2005 is as set out in the following table. Of course, the greater Dublin area now extends into areas which are the responsibility of the Louth-Meath, Carlow-Kildare or Wexford-Wicklow divisions. I am advised that for security and operational reasons, it is not Garda policy to disclose the number of personnel working in any particular area over any specific period of time. Garda management will continue to monitor and appraise the policing and administrative strategy employed throughout the Dublin metropolitan region with a view to ensuring that an effective Garda service is maintained.

Regarding 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 draw up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources, and in this context the needs of the Dublin metropolitan region will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda areas throughout the country.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 214: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he expects the 2000 extra gardaí promised before the general election of 2002 to appear on the streets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35954/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The timescale for achieving the target strength of 14,000 members of the Garda Síochána in line with the commitment in An Agreed Programme for Government is still as when I announced Government approval in October 2004 for my proposals to achieve this objective. The phased increase in the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 will lead to a combined strength, of both attested gardaí and recruits in training, of 14,000 by the end of 2006, with a fully attested strength of 14,000 by 2008. As part of the accelerated recruitment campaign to facilitate this process, 1,125 garda recruits were inducted to the Garda college during 2005. It will continue to induct 1,100 recruits for each of the next two years, by way of intakes to the Garda college of approximately 275 recruits every quarter. This project is fully on target and will be achieved.