Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 203: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans in place both in the short-term and long-term to provide an increased Garda presence in towns (details supplied) in order to tackle the recurrence of crimes such as burglary and car theft; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37504/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of the Leixlip, Celbridge, Maynooth and Kilcock Garda stations, as at 30 November 2005, was as set out in the following table.

I am further informed that local Garda management is satisfied that the existing available resources attached to the above stations are utilised efficiently to police each sub-district. Garda management also states that Garda personnel assigned throughout the country, together with the overall policing arrangements and operational strategy, are constantly monitored and reviewed. Such monitoring ensures that optimum use is made of Garda resources.

In relation 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 stations referred to by the Deputy will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda stations throughout the country.