Written answers

Tuesday, 28 March 2006

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Garda Strength

11:00 pm

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 379: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí employed in the Tallaght Garda station in each year over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11747/06]

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 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.

The number of gardaí serving in Tallaght Garda station in 1997 under the rainbow coalition Government was 136. Furthermore, when I took up office, the number of gardaí serving in Tallaght Garda station was 159. I have been further informed by the Garda authorities that the personnel strength, all ranks, of Tallaght Garda station as at 31 December 2001 to 2005, inclusively, and as at 28 March 2006 was as set out in the table hereunder:

Year Strength
2001 159
2002 159
2003 166
2004 173
2005 167
20/03/06 173

The station's resources are further augmented by a number of Garda national units, such as the Garda national immigration bureau, GNIB, the Criminal Assets Bureau, CAB, and other specialised units.

It is the responsibility of Garda management to allocate personnel among 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. The Garda authorities state that 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 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 now draw up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources, and in this context the needs of Tallaght Garda station will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda stations throughout the country.

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 380: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of transfers in the case of each Garda station in the Dublin area sought by members of the force from each of the stations concerned during 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11748/06]

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in the detail sought and can only be obtained by the disproportionate expenditure of Garda time and resources.

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