Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 404: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, in view of the shortage of gardaí in Miltown Malbay, County Clare, he will allocate extra gardaí to the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19123/06]

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 that the personnel strength of Miltown Malbay Garda Station as at 17 May, 2006 was 2 (all ranks). I am further advised that the permanent Garda service at Miltown Malbay Garda Station is augmented by Garda resources from within the Ennistymon District, and that during the summer months additional resources are temporarily transferred to Miltown Malbay Garda Station to assist the permanent force in policing annual festivals.

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. These personnel allocations are determined by a number of factors including demographics, crime trends, administrative functions and other operational policing needs. Such allocations are continually monitored and reviewed along with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy. This ensures that optimum use is made of Garda resources, and that the best possible service is provided to the public.

I should add 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 do so 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 Miltown Malbay will be given the fullest consideration.