Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 432: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the ratio of sergeants to gardaí in Store Street Garda station, Dublin 1; and if this ratio meets the normal requirements. [19370/06]

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 Gardaí and Sergeants attached to Store Street Garda Station and nationally as at 19 May 2006 was as set out in the table hereunder:

I recently received a submission from the Garda Commissioner regarding, inter alia, the appointment of a significant number of additional Sergeants. I intend to bring proposals to Government on this matter shortly.

Garda management advise that personnel assigned throughout the country, together with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy, are continually monitored and reviewed. Such monitoring ensures that optimum use is made of Garda resources, and that the best possible Garda service is provided to the general public. The situation will be kept under review and when additional personnel next become available the needs of Store Street Garda Station will be fully considered.

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.