John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 419: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans he has in place to appoint a resident Garda in Coolaney and Enniscrone, County Sligo as Garda accommodation is available, in view of the fact that the population in these rural regions has grown tremendously and needs to have a resident Garda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15964/06]

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 An 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 personnel strength of the Coolaney Garda Station, which forms part of the Sligo/ Leitrim Division, as at 31 March, 2006 was 1. The personnel strength of the Enniscrone Garda Station, which forms part of the Mayo Division, as at 31 March, 2006 was 3 (all ranks).

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.

I should also say that the current recruitment drive to increase the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 members in line with the commitment in the Agreed Programme for Government is fully on target. This will lead to a combined strength, of both attested Gardaí and recruits in training, of 14,000 by the end of this year. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the first group of newly attested Gardaí under the accelerated recruitment programme came on stream in March and a further 275 newly attested Gardaí will come on stream every 90 days from here on in.

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 stations referred to by the Deputy will be given the fullest consideration.