Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 403: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will provide additional resources for the Garda Síochána to allow gardaí in Tallaght to deal effectively with crime, including anti-social behaviour in Killinarden estate in Tallaght, especially associated with the local park; if assurances will be given to the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38111/05]

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 local Garda management is aware of the concerns of the community about crime and anti-social behaviour in the Killinarden estate and its environs. I am further informed that members from the community policing unit are assigned to the area and carry out routine patrols. This unit is supplemented by the Garda mountain bike unit and by uniform and detective unit patrols. Additional patrols are carried out by the divisional crime task force, traffic corps units and drug units. Particular initiatives, involving patrols by the Garda mounted unit, the Garda dog unit and the air support unit are concentrated in the Tallaght area on a regular basis. Under Operation Anvil, additional checkpoints are also being carried out in the area.

Local Garda management states that it is satisfied that resources in Tallaght are presently sufficient to police the area and this is subject to monitoring and regular review. Such monitoring ensures that optimum use is made of Garda resources, and that the best possible policing service is provided for 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 the 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 Tallaght area will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda areas throughout the country.