Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 197: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of community Gardaí in the Clontarf, Raheny, Santry and Coolock Garda stations; and the percentage of their eight hour shift which is spent in the local community on the beat working with citizens. [16819/06]

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.

I have been further informed by the Garda authorities that the number of Community Gardaí in Clontarf, Raheny, Santry and Coolock Garda stations, as at 31 March, 2006, was as set out hereunder.

Garda management states that current Policing Plans in the Dublin 3, Dublin 5 and Dublin 9 areas are predicated on the prevention of anti-social and public order offences and the maintenance of an environment conducive to the improvement of the quality of life for the residents. All community policing in the geographical areas identified involves the delivery of a full policing service in the heart of the community and in conjunction with local initiatives. Each member performs a full 8-hour tour of duty unless where necessarily deployed on other mandatory duties such as court attendance. This strategy is, and will continue to be, central to the delivery of a policing service to the areas in question.

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