Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 447: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has had discussions with the Garda Commissioner regarding the lack of adequate 24-hour Garda coverage on the Inishowen Peninsula, County Donegal, where there has been an increase in cross-Border crime, primarily attributed by gardaí to criminals from Derry city; if he will report on the outcome of those discussions; if he has not discussed this issue with the Garda Commissioner, if a meeting will be called as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8844/06]

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

A total of 21 extra gardaí will be appointed to the Donegal division in the next six weeks. Inishowen Peninsula forms part of the Buncrana Garda district. I am informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of Garda resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of the Buncrana Garda district as at 28 February 2006 was 78, all ranks.

The first incremental increase of newly attested gardaí under the current programme of accelerated recruitment will take place on 16 March, and I am informed that an additional 21 gardaí are due to be allocated to the Donegal division in conjunction with this incremental increase. A total of 16 of these gardaí will be allocated on 16 March, with the remaining five to be allocated on 18 April. As part of the allocation on 16 March, three gardaí are due to be allocated to the Buncrana district.

It is the responsibility of the divisional officer to allocate personnel within his-her 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 continues to appraise the policing and administrative strategy employed within each division with a view to ensuring that an effective Garda service is maintained.

Local Garda management state that there are two 24-hour Garda stations in the Inishowen Peninsula based at Burnfoot and Buncrana Garda stations. In addition there are 24-hour mobile patrols provided by the divisional traffic and detective units.

Local Garda management also state that they are focused on tackling crime in the area and are committed to the investigation and detection of local crimes and working in partnership with the Police Service of Northern Ireland to identify perpetrators living outside the jurisdiction. I am informed that, as a result of these close working relationships, a criminal group from Derry who had committed a number of crimes in the Inishowen area have been apprehended and are presently before the courts awaiting trial.

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.