John Cregan (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 471: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will confirm that additional gardaí will be posted to Newcastle West Garda station, County Limerick; when same will happen, in view of the fact that the present number attached to this section is 25, despite the fact that the population has doubled from ten years ago, when the number of gardaí attached to the station was 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9215/06]

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

I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources including personnel, that the personnel strength, all ranks, of Newcastle West Garda station, County Limerick on 28 February 2006 was 27. It is the responsibility of each divisional officer to allocate personnel within his or her division at levels on a priority basis in accordance with the requirements of different areas in the division. The personnel strength, all ranks, of the Limerick division has grown from 423 on 31 December 1997 to 481 on 28 February 2006. This represents an increase of 58, or 13.7%, in that time. 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 personnel assignments to the Newcastle West 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 public. The first incremental increase of newly attested gardaí under the current programme of accelerated recruitment will take place on 16 March 2006, and I am informed that an additional ten gardaí are to be allocated to the Limerick division in conjunction with this incremental increase, five on 16 March and a further five on 18 April.

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.

Garda management will draw up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources and in this context the needs of Newcastle West Garda station will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda stations throughout the Limerick division.