Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 60: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí allocated to Finglas Garda station in each of the years since and including 2000 and to date in 2006. [23248/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength (all ranks) of An 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 have been advised that Finglas Garda Station forms part of the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) West Division. The personnel strength of this Division as at 30 April, 2006 was 681 (all ranks). The personnel strength of the DMR West Division as at 1 January, 1999 was 542 (all ranks). This represents an increase of 139 (or 25%) in the number of personnel allocated to the Division since that date.

I have been further informed by the Garda authorities that the personnel strength of Finglas Garda Station as at 31 December 2000-2005 (inclusive) and as at 14 June, 2006 was as set out in the following table:

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 this accelerated recruitment programme came on stream in March and the second such group did so on 8 of June. 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 the area referred to by the Deputy will be given the fullest consideration.