Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 223: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí based in each Garda station in County Louth for the years 2000 to date in 2006; if he intends to increase the numbers in any location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20140/06]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 224: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of full-time gardaí based in Ardee in 2000 and 2006; if he will increase the number of gardaí; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20141/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 223 and 224 together.

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 Garda personnel in each Garda Station, including Ardee, in County Louth as at 31 December each year from 2000 to 2005 (inclusive) and as at 31 March 2006, was as set out in the table hereunder:

It should be noted that the necessity for a disproportionately large Garda presence in the border counties has significantly diminished since the Good Friday Agreement. Notwithstanding this, Garda management advise that an additional 10 Gardaí are due to be allocated to the Louth/ Meath Division in conjunction with the next allocation of Probationer Gardaí on 9 June 2006.

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 thereafter. 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 County Louth will be given the fullest consideration.