Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 408: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the number of gardaí in each Garda division who are currently on sick leave; the number of Garda within each division; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19226/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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 there were 89 members of An Garda Síochána on long-term sick leave as at 18 May, 2006. Long-term sick leave applies to absence in excess of 183 days. As regards ordinary short-term sick-leave, I am advised that the information requested is not readily available and can only be obtained by the expenditure of a disproportionate amount of Garda time and resources.

Garda management have also informed me that the personnel strength (all ranks) of each Garda Division throughout the country, as at 31 March, 2006, was as set out in the following table.

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 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.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 409: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the number of man-days lost per year through sick leave within the Garda Síochána nationally; the amount of lost man-days lost through sick leave in 2005 with the Garda traffic corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19227/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the total number of tours lost in the Garda Síochána through sick leave in 2005 was 126,282. I have been further informed by Garda management that the specific information requested in relation to the sick leave within the Garda Traffic Corps is not readily available.