Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 238: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to reports that on St. Patrick's night 2006 there were only three gardaí on duty in Castleisland town, one of whom was seriously injured in an assault; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12302/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I have been informed by the Garda authorities responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of Castleisland Garda station as at 27 March 2006 was nine, all ranks. I have been further informed that the unit detailed for work on St. Patrick's night 2006 consisted of one sergeant and one garda. To augment the unit a third member was employed on overtime. Garda management states that a public order incident arose which resulted in two persons, a male and a female, being arrested. The matter is currently under investigation and when complete a file on the matter will be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

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 be drawing up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources, and in this context the needs of the Kerry division will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda divisions throughout the country.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 239: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí stationed in the Kerry Garda division during 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003. 2004 and 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12303/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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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 number of gardaí, all ranks, stationed in the Kerry division as at 31 December 1997, 2000, and 2002-2005, inclusively, was as set out in the following table:

This represents an increase of 36, or 16%, in the number of gardaí stationed in the Kerry division since 31 December 1997. In addition, I would point out to the Deputy that the division'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.

I should also state that 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 be drawing up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources, and in this context the needs of the Kerry division will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda divisions throughout the country.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 240: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí stationed in the Waterford and Kilkenny Garda division during 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003. 2004 and 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12304/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I have been informed by the Garda authorities 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 number of gardaí, all ranks, stationed in the Waterford and Kilkenny division as at 31 December 1997, 2000 and 2002 to date was as set out in the following table:

This represents an increase of 50, or 16%, in the number of gardaí, all ranks, stationed in the Waterford and Kilkenny division since 31 December 1997. In addition, I would point out to the Deputy that the division'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.

I should also state that 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 be drawing up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources, and in this context the needs of the Waterford and Kilkenny division will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda divisions throughout the country.

John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 241: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí stationed in the Sligo and Leitrim Garda division during 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12305/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I have been informed by the Garda authorities 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 number of gardaí, all ranks, stationed in the Sligo and Leitrim division as at 31 December 1997, 2000 and 2002-2005, inclusive, was as set out in the following table:

This represents an increase of over 5% in the number of gardaí stationed in the Sligo and Leitrim division in this period, even taking into account the fact that the necessity for the large Garda presence in the Border counties has significantly diminished since the Good Friday Agreement. In addition, I would point out to the Deputy that the division'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 general public.

I should also state that 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 be drawing up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources, and in this context the needs of the Sligo and Leitrim division will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda divisions throughout the country.