Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 240: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of serving gardaí in each Garda district in the Dublin metropolitan region south division and the population in each such Garda district. [37070/05]

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 information sought by the Deputy was, as at 29 November 2005, as set out in the table. Corresponding figures sourced from the 2002 census of population are also included.

It should be noted that the allocation of Garda personnel both on a national basis and within each division is determined by a number of factors including demographics, administrative functions, crime trends and other operational policing needs.

The numbers of Garda personnel assigned throughout the country, together with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy, are continually monitored and reviewed. Such monitoring ensures that optimum use is made of Garda resources, and that the best possible policing service is provided to the general public.

On 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 Dublin metropolitan region south division will be fully considered.