Written answers

Thursday, 26 January 2006

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Garda Deployment

5:00 pm

Photo of Paul Connaughton  SnrPaul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 124: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if it is proposed to make changes in the method by which the gardaí attached to Monivea Garda station, Monivea, Athenry, County Galway, will be deployed in the future; if the present garda strength of two will be maintained for the benefit exclusively of the Monivea community; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that between 500 and 1,000 young people socialise in the village most weekends of the year; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that this community values the service given by its present gardaí and deem same to be the minimum level of policing acceptable in the circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2575/06]

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I have been informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of Monivea Garda station as at 25 January 2006 was one sergeant and one garda. Local Garda management states there are currently no plans to alter the personnel strength of Monivea Garda station and resources are augmented from within the district-division, as required. Local Garda management also states it will continue to monitor policing arrangements in all sub-districts with a view to ensuring that all areas receive an adequate policing service and when additional personnel next become available the needs of Monivea Garda station will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda stations throughout the country.

The timescale for achieving the target strength of 14,000 members of the Garda Síochána in line with the commitment in the agreed programme for Government remains as when I announced the Government approval in October 2004 for my proposals to achieve this objective. The phased increase in the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 will lead to a combined strength, of both attested gardaí and recruits in training, of 14,000 by the end of this year. As part of the accelerated recruitment campaign to facilitate this process, 1,125 Garda recruits were inducted to the Garda College during 2005. The college will induct 1,100 recruits this year and a further 1,100 in 2007, by way of intakes to the Garda College of approximately 275 recruits every quarter. This project is fully on target and will be achieved.

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