John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 539: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to improve the service offered to the public from Inistioge Garda station, County Kilkenny; if proper public lighting will be provided at this station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5660/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I have been informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of the Waterford-Kilkenny division as at 9 February 2006 was 342, all ranks. The personnel strength of the Waterford-Kilkenny division as at 31 December 1997 was 307, all ranks. This represents an increase of 35 or 11.4% since that date.

I am further advised that the personnel strength of Inistioge Garda station as at 9 February 2006 was one garda, and that the station is open to the public from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. daily except on Tuesdays, when it opens from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. for the purpose of signing forms.

Plans for the replacement of the public access call box, PACS, or "Green Man" units with modern technology have commenced in sub-district Garda stations and replacements will be carried out on a priority basis. The provision of public lighting is a matter for the relevant local authority.

It is the responsibility of the divisional officer for the Waterford-Kilkenny division to allocate personnel within the division. The allocation of such resources throughout the division is determined by a number of factors, including demographics, administrative functions, crime trends and other operational policing needs. Garda management will continue to appraise the policing and administrative strategy employed in the division with a view to ensuring an effective Garda service is maintained.

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 now be drawing up plans for the distribution of these additional resources and, in this context, the needs of Inistioge Garda station will be fully considered in the context of the needs of Garda stations throughout the country.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 540: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to increase Garda numbers in villages and towns in County Kilkenny where increases in the population have been significant and where there is no Garda station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5661/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I have been informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of the Waterford-Kilkenny division as at 9 February 2006 was 342, all ranks. The personnel strength of the Waterford-Kilkenny division as at 31 December 1997 was 307, all ranks. This represents an increase of 35 or 11.4% since that date.

It is the responsibility of the divisional officer for the Waterford-Kilkenny division to allocate personnel within the division. The allocation of such resources throughout the division is determined by a number of factors, including demographics, administrative functions, crime trends and other operational policing needs. Garda management will continue to appraise the policing and administrative strategy employed in the division with a view to ensuring an effective Garda service is maintained.

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.

In this regard, I am informed by the Garda authorities that the first incremental increase of newly attested gardaí due to the programme of accelerated recruitment into the Garda Síochána will take place on 16 March 2006. Garda management states that during the allocation of the newly attested personnel, the needs of the Waterford-Kilkenny division will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda divisions throughout the country.