Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 434: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the figures for the number of gardaí, including rank, currently stationed in Limerick city. [13224/06]

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 on 31 December 1997 was 10,702 and on 20 March 2006 was 12,445. Therefore, the personnel strength of the Garda increased by 1,743, or 16.3%, during that period. The personnel strength of the Limerick division on 3 April 2006 was 482, comprising one chief superintendent, five superintendents, ten inspectors, 69 sergeants and 397 gardaí. The personnel strength of the Limerick division on 31 December 1997 was 423, all ranks. Therefore, the personnel strength of the Garda in the division increased by 59, or 14%, during that period. The division's resources are further augmented by a number of Garda national units, including the Garda National Immigration Bureau, the Criminal Assets Bureau and other specialised units.

Garda management is responsible for the allocation of personnel throughout and within divisions on a priority basis, in accordance with the requirements of different areas. The allocation of resources is determined by a number of factors including demographics, administrative functions, crime trends and other operational policing needs. The timescale for achieving the target strength of 14,000 members of the force, in line with the commitment in An Agreed Programme for Government, remains as it was when I announced in October 2004 that the Government had approved my proposals to achieve this objective. The phased increase in the strength of the Garda to 14,000 will lead to a combined strength, of 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 in 2005. The college will induct a further 1,100 recruits this year and again in 2007, by means of intakes to the 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 is drawing up plans on how best to distribute and manage the additional resources. The needs of the Limerick division will be fully considered in the overall context of the needs of Garda divisions throughout the country.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 435: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the figures for the number of gardaí, including rank, stationed in Blanchardstown to cover the Dublin 15 area on 31 January of each year since 1996. [13225/06]

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 on 31 December 1997 was 10,702 and on 20 March 2006 was 12,445. Therefore, the personnel strength of the Garda increased by 1,743, or 16.3%, during that period. I have also been informed that the personnel strength, by rank, of Blanchardstown Garda station on 31 January of each year between 1997 and 2006, inclusive, was as follows:

The number of gardaí allocated to Blanchardstown Garda station increased by 77, or 87.5%, over that period, during which time it became the district K headquarters of the Dublin metropolitan region's west division. The figures requested in respect of the number of personnel attached to Blanchardstown Garda station in January 1996 are not available because the statistics compiled prior to 1997 were compiled on a divisional basis. The resources of the Dublin metropolitan region's west division 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. Garda management has said it will continue to appraise the policing and administrative strategy employed in the Dublin metropolitan region's west division with a view to ensuring that an effective Garda service is maintained. 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 is responsible for the allocation of personnel throughout and within divisions on a priority basis, in accordance with the requirements of different areas. The allocation of resources is determined by a number of factors including demographics, administrative functions, crime trends and other operational policing needs. The timescale for achieving the target strength of 14,000 members of the force, in line with the commitment in An Agreed Programme for Government, remains as it was when I announced in October 2004 that the Government had approved my proposals to achieve this objective. The phased increase in the strength of the Garda to 14,000 will lead to a combined strength, of 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 in 2005. The college will induct a further 1,100 recruits this year and again in 2007, by means of intakes to the 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 is drawing up plans on how best to distribute and manage the additional resources. The needs of Blanchardstown Garda station will be fully considered in the overall context of the needs of Garda stations throughout the country.