Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 465: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on Garda levels and resources in west Wicklow; his further views on whether the current levels are totally inadequate; the provision which is being made to increase the number of gardaí and accompanying resources. [9016/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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An additional five gardaí are due to be assigned specifically to the Baltinglass district, two on 16 March and a further three on 18 April.

I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the west Wicklow area is policed by gardaí attached to the Baltinglass district, which forms part of the Carlow-Kildare division. The personnel strength of the Baltinglass district as at 28 February, 2006 was 55, all ranks. The personnel strength of the Baltinglass district as at 31 December 1997 was 49, all ranks. This represents an increase of six, or 12.2%, in that time.

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 17 gardaí are due to be allocated to the Carlow-Kildare division in conjunction with this incremental increase.

Garda personnel assignments to the Baltinglass district, together with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy, are continually monitored and reviewed. Such monitoring ensures that optimum use is made of Garda resources, and that the best possible Garda service is provided to the general public. Local Garda management state that they are satisfied with manpower levels in the Baltinglass district as a result of the increases referred to above.

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 record expansion, 1,125 Garda recruits were inducted to the Garda college during 2005. The college will induct a further 1,100 recruits this year and again 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.