Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 330: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if additional Gardaí will be allocated to a town (details supplied) in County Mayo for the summer months, as the population of that town trebles for that period. [21694/06]

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 30 April 2006 was 12,408. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June 1997 and represents an increase of 1,706 (or 16%) in the personnel strength of the Force during that period. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the serving strength of the Force is to receive a significant additional boost with the attestation of approximately 275 new members tomorrow (8 June).

I have been further informed that the personnel strength of Westport Garda Station as at 31 December, 1997 was 21 (all ranks). The personnel strength of Westport Garda Station as at 6 June, 2006 was 25 Gardaí (all ranks). This includes one Garda allocated to Westport Garda Station in conjunction with the last allocation of Probationer Gardaí on 16 March, 2006, and represents an increase of 4 (or 19%) in the number of Gardaí stationed in Westport Garda Station during that period. In addition, a further one (1) Garda will be allocated to Westport Garda Station in conjunction with the next allocation of Probationer Gardaí on 9 June.

Garda Management state that this will lead to an additional two Gardaí being available for duty in Westport this summer in comparison with the same period in 2005.

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. The first group of newly attested Gardaí under the accelerated recruitment programme came on stream in March, with a further 275 newly attested Gardaí to 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 Westport Garda Station will be given the fullest consideration.