Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 559: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí who are stationed in South Tipperary towns (details supplied); the number of extra gardaí who have been allocated to each town listed since 2002; the number of gardaí who have been taken away from each town listed since 2002, and the number of gardaí who are located in each of the towns per thousand citizens. [27584/06]

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.

I have been further informed that the personnel strength (all ranks) of Clonmel, Carrick-On-Suir, Tipperary Town, Cahir, Fethard and Cashel Garda Stations as at 31 December, 2002 and 4 July, 2006 is as set out in the table. The table also sets out the population of each of the towns in question based on figures from the 2002 Census of Population.

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 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 the towns referred to by the Deputy will be given the fullest consideration.