Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 339: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of probationer Gardaí who were allocated from the Garda college to each Garda station in Dublin City and County during 2005. [17324/06]

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 Probationer Gardaí allocated to each Garda Station in the Dublin Metropolitan Region in 2005 was as set out in the following tables.

The Dublin Metropolitan Region extends into parts of Counties Wicklow and Kildare. In this regard the Garda stations at Bray, Greystones and Enniskerry, while within the Wicklow County boundary, form part of the Dublin Metropolitan Region East Division. Leixlip Garda Station, which lies within the Kildare County boundary, forms part of the Dublin Metropolitan Region West Division.

It is the responsibility of Garda management to allocate personnel to 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.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 340: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of the 21 Gardaí at all ranks, who were transferred out of a station (details supplied) in Dublin 24 in 2005, who were appointed to a national unit; the number who were transferred to another Garda station following a request from the officer concerned; if he will confirm, that the 21 Gardaí transferred during 2005 had their places within the station filled by probationer Gardaí, allocated directly from the Garda college; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17325/06]

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 am further advised that the personnel strength (all ranks) of Tallaght Garda Station as at 31 March 2006 was 170. This compares with an equivalent figure of 133 as at 31 December 1997, and represents an increase of 37 (or 27.8%) in that period.

I have been further informed by the Garda authorities that of the 21 Gardaí transferred from Tallaght Garda Station in 2005, a total of eight Gardaí had been successful in competitions to join national units. Accordingly, eight Gardaí from Tallaght Garda Station were allocated to national units in November, 2005. I have also been informed by the Garda authorities that one Garda was transferred to the Garda College and the remaining twelve Gardaí were transferred following requests from the individuals concerned.

Garda Management state that 19 Probationer Gardaí were allocated directly from the college to Tallaght Garda Station on the first allocation. One Garda transferred into Tallaght Garda Station in 2005. It is the responsibility of Garda management to allocate personnel to 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 Tallaght Garda Station will be given the fullest consideration.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 341: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of Gardaí at all ranks in each station during 2005, in relation to all Garda stations in Dublin City and County, who requested a transfer out of that station, for the purposes of facilitating a transfer to another Garda station during the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17326/06]

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 members of An Garda Síochána who sought transfers during 2005 in each Garda Station in the Dublin Metropolitan Region which have yet to be acceded to are as set out in the table hereunder:

Members who applied for a transfer in 2005 and have since been transferred are not included in these figures. Garda management advise that this information is not readily available and can only be obtained by the disproportionate expenditure of Garda time and resources relative to the information sought.

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.