John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 382: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the additional funding required to recruit 2,000 additional Gardaí; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26802/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of An Garda Síochána increased to a record 12,641 (all ranks) 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.

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 full year cost in salaries, allowances and additional equipment requirements such as uniforms, telecommunications, transport etc., for an additional 2,000 attested Gardaí is approximately €144 million.