Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 580: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, due to the rise in population in Enniscorthy, Wexford, New Ross, Gorey, County Wexford his views on the number of gardaí in each town to police the areas in a satisfactory way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7036/06]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 581: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans for changing the district Garda stations in Wexford; if there are plans in his Department to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7037/06]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 582: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to bring Bunclody Garda station area into the Enniscorthy area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7038/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 580 to 582, inclusive, together.

I have been informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of Enniscorthy, Wexford, New Ross and Gorey Garda stations as at 17 February 2006 was as set out in the following table:

It is the responsibility of the divisional officer for the Wexford-Wicklow division to allocate personnel within the division. The allocation of such resources throughout the division is determined by several 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.

There are no plans to alter the district boundaries as they relate to the Wexford-Wicklow division.

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 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 Wexford-Wicklow division will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda divisions throughout the country.