Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 425: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the strength of the Garda Síochána; the number of civilians involved; and if he will provide a comparative figure for 1996; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19335/06]

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 10,818 (all ranks) as at 31 December 1996 and represents an increase of 1,621 (or 15%) in the personnel strength of the Force during that period. The number of civilians serving with An Garda Síochána as at 19 May 2006 was 1,924. The equivalent figure for 1996 is not readily available.

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.