Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 440: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí stationed in Roscommon and Galway east Garda division during 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13257/06]

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 been further informed that the numbers of gardaí stationed in the Roscommon-Galway east Garda division on 31 December of 1997 and each of the years between 2000 and 2005, inclusive, and on 4 April 2006 was as follows:

This represents an increase of 19, or 8%, in the number of gardaí stationed in the Roscommon-Galway east division 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 Roscommon-Galway east Garda division will be fully considered in the overall context of the needs of Garda divisions throughout the country.