Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 309: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that it took Ballyfermot gardaí one hour and ten minutes to respond to a call regarding a double stabbing in a take away on the Ballyfermot Road, Dublin 10; if the Garda Commissioner made him aware of the reason for that delay; the way in which the slow response to a potentially fatal incident fits with his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 336 of 11 October 2005 (details supplied). [7313/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that on Sunday, 12 February 2006, a number of calls were received reporting a public order incident outside a takeaway in the area in question. This incident resulted in two juveniles attending hospital to receive treatment. Preliminary inquiries by the Garda authorities indicate that one youth was struck by a broken bottle and while no complaint was received regarding this matter a Garda investigation is ongoing.

I am further informed that there were a number of other serious incidents in the area in question at the same time as this incident. I am assured that local Garda management endeavours to have all calls dealt with efficiently and without undue delay and local uniform and plain clothes personnel are regularly supplemented by the divisional task force and traffic corps units as well as the district detective unit and public order unit to address this. However I am advised that a Garda inspector has been appointed to investigate the circumstances surrounding the delay in responding to this incident.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 310: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the Garda Commissioner will consider increasing the number of Garda foot patrols from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. at weekends around the location of the shop and pubs on or near Ballyfermot Road to help address the problems of anti-social behaviour such as drug-dealing, assaults, stabbings in this vicinity. [7314/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of all ranks at Ballyfermot Garda station as at 31 December 1997 and 2005 was 72 and 80, respectively. This represents an increase of 8, or 11%, in the number of gardaí allocated to Ballyfermot Garda station during this period.

Local Garda management is aware of ongoing anti-social behaviour problems in this area. Local uniform and detective personnel patrol the area and are regularly supplemented by the divisional task force and traffic corps units as well as the district detective unit and public order unit.

I am also informed that a Garda from the community policing unit is assigned to the local business watch scheme and community gardaí perform regular foot patrols in this area as part of the district policing plan. A designated Garda has been assigned to cover a special beat in the area. A period of intensive patrolling, under Operation Assist, has been arranged between local Garda management and the operational support units and will involve the Garda mounted unit, the Garda dog unit and the Garda air support unit in conjunction with local uniform and detective personnel.

With regard to the number of gardaí available, I should also say that 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.

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