Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 40: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, in view of the fact that the villages of Laytown, Bettystown and Mornington have a combined population of 8,000 people and growing, the local part-time Garda station will be upgraded to a full 24 hour permanent Garda station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3492/06]

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 Laytown Garda station as at 31 January 2006 was eight — all ranks.

I am further advised that there are no plans to extend the opening hours of Laytown Garda station. The extension of the opening hours at the station would only serve to confine more personnel to indoor administrative duties. It is the view of the Garda authorities that such personnel can be utilised more effectively in providing a visible Garda presence on outdoor police duties.

The timescale for achieving the target strength of 14,000 members of the Garda Síochána in line with the commitment in An 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.

The Garda Commissioner will draw up plans for the distribution of these additional resources and in this context the needs of the Laytown, Bettystown and Mornington areas will be fully considered.