Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 392: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí appointed to the traffic corps in the past 12 months who have done the standard driving course for gardaí and the advanced driving course. [38896/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda Commissioner and will contact her again when the information is to hand.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 393: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of new gardaí who have been appointed to the traffic corps in the past 12 months. [38897/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that the personnel strength of the traffic corps nationally as at 24 September 2004 was 521, all ranks. The personnel strength of the traffic corps nationally as at the 19 October 2005, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 574, all ranks.

I announced the establishment within the Garda Síochána of the traffic corps on 23 November 2004. The Government has approved my proposal to increase the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 members on a phased basis in line with the commitment in An Agreed Programme for Government. As each cycle of recruit training is completed, the Garda Commissioner will assign these new members to the areas of greatest need with particular regard to certain priorities, which include the traffic corps.

The number of gardaí assigned to the traffic corps will increase from the current level of 574 to 1,200 by 2008. The strength of the traffic corps will be increased on a phased basis in tandem with the recruitment of almost 1,100 recruits in each of the next three years: 2006, 805; 2007, 1,030; 2008, 1,200.