Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 314: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the strength of An Garda Síochána on 31 March 2002 and 30 June 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16877/06]

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 personnel strength (all ranks) of An Garda Síochána as at 31 March, 2002 and 30 June, 2002 was as set out in the table hereunder:

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.