Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 374: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of Garda personnel in the Kerry division as at 22 November 1997, 2000 and 2004 respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37684/05]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 375: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of Garda personnel in Tralee Garda Station, County Kerry as at 22 November 1997, 2000 and 2004 respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37685/05]

Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 376: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of extra gardaí who have been allocated to the Tralee Garda division since 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37764/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 374 to 376, inclusive, together.

I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of both the Kerry Garda division and the Tralee Garda station as at 30 November, 1997, 2000 and 2004 was as set out in the following table:

I am further informed that the personal strength of Tralee Garda district as at 31 December 1997 was 94, all ranks. The personnel strength of Tralee Garda district as at 1 December, 2005 was 105, all ranks. This represents an increase of 11, or 11.7%, in the number of personnel allocated to Tralee Garda district since that date. Garda management states that Garda personnel strength as requested on specific dates is not readily available.

Garda management further states that Garda personnel assigned throughout the country, together with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy, are constantly monitored and reviewed. Such monitoring ensures that optimum use is made of Garda resources.

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 be drawing up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources, and in this context the needs of the Kerry division will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda divisions throughout the country.