Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 301: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if additional gardaí will be assigned to the Tallaght area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3457/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of Garda resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of Tallaght Garda station as at 1 February 2006 was 167 — all ranks. The strength of Tallaght Garda station as at 31 December 1997 is 133 — all ranks. This represents an increase of 34, or 25.6%, since that date.

I am further informed that local Garda management is satisfied that the resources currently allocated to Tallaght Garda station are adequate to meet the present policing needs of the area.

Garda personnel assignments 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 and that the best possible service is provided to the public.

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, in October 2004, Government approval 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.