Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 447: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the implications of the proposed new Garda divisional headquarters in Ballymun for the existing divisional headquarters in Santry and the level of service which will be provided from the Santry Garda station once the new station in Ballymun is open. [19621/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the new Garda station at Ballymun, when complete, will become the relevant Divisional and District Headquarters. I am further advised that Santry Garda Station will remain in service as a city station and, under the direction of the Divisional and District Officers, will continue to provide a service commensurate with the policing needs of the area.

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 the Santry area will be given the fullest consideration.