Written answers

Tuesday, 28 March 2006

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Garda Deployment

11:00 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 356: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of extra gardaí deployed to the various stations throughout County Kildare since May 2002; the extent to which these numbers are in line with proposals announced during the 2002 general election; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11558/06]

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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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 the Garda Síochána as of 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 number of Garda personnel, all ranks, attached to each Garda station in County Kildare as of 30 June 2002 and 23 March 2006 was as set out in the following tables.

Station 30 June 2002 23 March 2006
Naas 80 85
Celbridge 19 19
Clane 5 5
Kill 3 3
Maynooth 14 15
Kildare 29 26
Robertstown 3 3
Kilcullen 3 3
Monasterevin 3 2
Newbridge 29 33
Rathangan 3 3
Carbury 2 2
Athy 18 19
Castledermot 1 2
Ballytore 1 1
Ballymore Eustace 1
Leixlip 19 25
Kilcock 6 5
Total 239 251

Garda management states that on 18 April 2006 an additional five gardaí will be allocated to the Carlow-Kildare division by way of permanent divisional transfer. In addition, the division's resources are further augmented by a number of Garda national units such as the Garda national immigration bureau, the Criminal Assets Bureau and other specialised units. It is the responsibility of Garda management to allocate personnel throughout and within divisions on a priority basis in accordance with the requirements of different areas. The allocation of such resources is determined by a number of factors including demographics, administrative functions, crime trends and other operational policing needs.

Garda management further states that Garda personnel assignments 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 that 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 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 now be drawing up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources and, in this context, the needs of the stations referred to by the Deputy will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda stations throughout the country.

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