Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 564: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a new Garda sergeant with responsibility for community policy will be appointed in Mountjoy Garda station; and the length of time this role has been vacant. [6899/06]

Michael 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 post of community policing sergeant at Mountjoy Garda station became vacant on 1 November 2005. I have been further informed that local Garda management is in the process of advertising the position and once a suitable candidate has been identified, he or she will be deployed as the community policing sergeant for Mountjoy Garda station.

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 Mountjoy Garda station will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda stations throughout the country.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 565: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí who have been stationed at Mountjoy, Bridewell, Cabra and Fitzgibbon Garda stations in the years 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005; the projected numbers for 2006; the rank of the different Garda across this period and for each year; the number who have been devoted to community policing. [6900/06]

Michael 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 the Mountjoy, Bridewell, Cabra and Fitzgibbon Street Garda stations as at 31 December 2000-2005, inclusively, was as set out in the following table.

I have been further informed that the personnel strength of the Dublin metropolitan region as at 31 December 2000 and as at 31 December 2005 was 3,512, all ranks, and 3,742, all ranks, respectively. This represents an increase of 230, or 7%, in the number of gardaí allocated to the Dublin metropolitan region during that period.

Garda management states that the reduction in Garda personnel serving in Cabra Garda station, as shown in the table above, can be attributed to the fact that the district K headquarters in Dublin metropolitan region west has moved from Cabra Garda station to Blanchardstown Garda station during that period.

I am also informed that the personnel strength of Blanchardstown Garda station as at 31 December 2000 and as at 31 December 2005 was 106, all ranks, and 167, all ranks, respectively. This represents an increase of 61, or 58 %, in the number of gardaí allocated to Blanchardstown Garda station during that period.

In the above regard, a number of Garda national units have been established during the years referred to by the Deputy, for example, the Garda National Immigration Bureau, GNIB, the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigations, GBFI, the Criminal Assets Bureau, CAB, and other specialist units. These units provide specialised policing services on a nationwide basis and augment the policing services provided at divisional level. The personnel strength of the national units is over and above the strength of the various operational Garda divisions.

Garda management states that the number of gardaí assigned to community policing duties, all ranks, at Mountjoy, Bridewell, Cabra and Fitzgibbon Street Garda stations as at 31 December 2000-05, inclusively, was as set out in the following table.

Unfortunately at this time I do not have a breakdown of these above figures by rank.

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 Garda stations referred to by the Deputy will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda stations throughout the country.

Accordingly, it is not possible to project the number of gardaí that will be allocated to each Garda station as at 31 December 2006, as the allocation of Garda personnel is continually monitored and reviewed to ensure that the best possible use is made of Garda resources and that the best possible service is provided for the public.