Written answers
Tuesday, 20 June 2006
Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
Garda Deployment
10:00 pm
Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 418: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of Gardaí working in community policing in Dublin City and County in each year over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23742/06]
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 rose to a record 12,641 on 8 June 2006 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 further informed by the Garda authorities that the personnel strength of each Community Policing Unit in the Dublin Metropolitan Region and in the Balbriggan District as at 31 December, 2000 to 2005 (inclusive) was as set out in the table hereunder.
| Station | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 |
| Pearse St. | 10 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 15 | 11 |
| Harcourt Tce. | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Kevin St. | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 7 |
| Kilmainham | 5 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
| Donnybrook | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| Irishtown | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Crumlin | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Sundrive Rd. | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Rathfarnham | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Tallaght | 20 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 20 |
| Rathmines | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Terenure | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Santry | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Whitehall | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Ballymun | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 9 |
| Coolock | 6 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Malahide | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| Swords | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 11 |
| Raheny | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Clontarf | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
| Howth | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| Blanchardstown | 11 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 17 |
| Cabra | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| Finglas | 9 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 13 | 12 |
| Lucan | 4 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 8 |
| Leixlip | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Ballyfermot | 9 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 14 |
| Clondalkin | 8 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 16 |
| Ronanstown | 11 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 13 |
| Rathcoole | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Store St. | 20 | 17 | 20 | 25 | 24 | 26 |
| Fitzgibbon St. | 14 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
| Mountjoy | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 13 |
| Bridewell | 14 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 15 |
| Dún Laoghaire | 1 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Dalkey | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Kill-O-Grange | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Cabinteeley | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Bray | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 9 |
| Shankill | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Greystones | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Blackrock | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Dundrum | 4 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
| Stepaside | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Balbriggan | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
It is the responsibility of Garda management to allocate Community Gardaí 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 the 8th 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 Community Policing will be given the fullest consideration.
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