Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 196: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if extra funding will be offered or arranged to enhance Garda assistance at the weekends in Maynooth, in view of the fact that the service was out in the course of the four calls a person made over one and a half hours in the early hours of 4 June 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23131/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the personnel strength (all ranks) of the Garda Síochána increased to a record 12,641 on Thursday 8 June with the attestation of 273 new members. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June 1997 and represents an increase of 1,939 (or 18.1%) in the personnel strength of the Force during that period. I am advised that the personnel strength (all ranks) of the Carlow/Kildare Division as at today's date is 358. This compares with an equivalent figure of 281 as at 31 December 1997, and represents a very significant increase of 77 (or 27.4%) in the personnel strength of the Division since that date. I am further advised that an additional Garda is to be allocated to Maynooth Garda Station next month. The personnel strength of Maynooth Garda Station is currently 16 (all ranks), an increase of 7 (or 43.8%) on the equivalent strength of the Station as at 31 December 1997.

The Deputy will be aware that Maynooth is not a 24-hour Garda station. I am advised that when it is not open, P.A.C.B. (Public Access Call Box) and call diversion systems are in operation to the District Headquarters at Naas.

As regards the specific incident referred to by the Deputy, I have asked the Garda Commissioner for his observations on the matter and I will be in contact directly with the Deputy when these are available. 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 second group of newly attested gardaí under this accelerated recruitment programme came on stream in on 8 June, and further tranches of approximately 275 newly attested gardaí will follow every 90 days thereafter until the programme is complete.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 Maynooth will be given the fullest consideration.