John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 628: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the figures for the number of Gardaí on the beat during the day and during the evening and nights in the Dublin 4 area; the same figures for Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14300/06]

Michael 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 March 2006 was 12,439. This compares with a total strength of 10,702, all ranks, as at 30 June 1997 and represents an increase of 1,737 or 16.2% in the personnel strength of the force during that period.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the Dublin 4 area is policed by gardaí attached to the Dublin metropolitan region south central division. The personnel strength of the Dublin metropolitan region south central division as at 31 March 2006 was 711, all ranks. This represents am increase of 73 or over 11% since I took up office in June 2002.

I am further advised that the Garda Síochána operate a three-relief roster system where three out of four units work in any 24-hour period, with the fourth unit resting in the same 24-hour period. For security and operational reasons, it is not policy to disclose the number of gardaí on duty in any area at any given time.

I should also say that the timescale for achieving the target strength of 14,000 members of the Garda Síochána in line with the commitment in the 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.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 629: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the figures for the number of gardaí on the beat during the day and during the evening and nights in the Dublin 6 area; the same figures for Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14301/06]

Michael 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 March 2006 was 12,439. This compares with a total strength of 10,702, all ranks, as at 30 June 1997 and represents an increase of 1,737 or 16.2% in the personnel strength of the force during that period.

The Dublin 6 area is policed by gardaí attached to the Dublin metropolitan region south division. I am advised by the Garda authorities that the personnel strength of the Dublin metropolitan region south division as at 31 March 2006 was 566, all ranks. This represents an increase of 42, or 8% since I took up office in June 2002.

I am further advised that the Garda Síochána operate a three-relief roster system whereby three out of four units work in any 24-hour period, with the fourth unit resting in the same 24-hour period. For security and operational reasons, it is not policy to disclose the number of gardaí on duty in any area at any given time.

I should also say that the timescale for achieving the target strength of 14,000 members of the Garda Síochána in line with the commitment in the 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.