Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 690: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí stationed in Clonmel, Carrick-on-Suir, Tipperary, Cahir, Fethard and Cashel in south Tipperary; the number of extra gardaí that have been allocated to each town listed since 1997; the further number of gardaí that have been taken away from each town listed since 1997; and the number of gardaí located in each of the towns per thousand citizens. [10882/06]

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

I have been informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength, all ranks, of the Garda Síochána as at 31 December 1997 and 20 March 2006 was 10,702 and 12,445, respectively. This represents an increase of 1,743, or 16.3%, in the personnel strength of the Garda Síochána during that period.

I have been further informed by the Garda authorities that the personnel strength of Clonmel, Carrick-On-Suir, Tipperary, Cahir, Fethard and Cashel Garda stations as at 31 December 1997 and as at 20 March 2006 was as set out in the following table:

Garda management states that 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 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.

I am pleased to point out to the Deputy that during the period concerned the number of gardaí across the six stations increased by over 8%. Garda management further states that Garda personnel assigned throughout the country, 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 the best possible Garda service is provided to the general public.

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. This project is fully on target and will be achieved.

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. The first incremental increase of newly attested gardaí under the programme of accelerated recruitment took place on 15 March 2006.

The Garda Commissioner will be drawing up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources and in this context, the needs of the Garda stations referred to by the Deputy will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda stations throughout the country.