John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 571: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of Gardaí stationed in the Dungarvan district every year from 2000 to 2005 and to date in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27758/06]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 572: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of An Garda Síochána stationed in the Tramore District every year from 2000 to 2005 and to date in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27759/06]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 573: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of An Garda Síochána stationed in the Waterford City District every year from 2000 to 2005 and to date in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27761/06]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 581: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of Gardai that were stationed in the City and County of Waterford for each year from 2000 through to the present number in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27843/06]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 583: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of Gardaí serving in the City and County of Waterford for each of the years from 1997 to date in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27855/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 571 to 573, inclusive, 581 and 583 together.

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 of each Garda District in the Waterford/ Kilkenny Division as at 31 December 1997-2005, inclusively, and as at 4 July, 2006 was as set out in the following table:

This represents an increase of 61 (or 20%) in the number of Garda personnel assigned to the Waterford/ Kilkenny Division during that period.

In addition, I would point out to the Deputy that the Division's resources are further augmented by a number of Garda National Units such as the Garda National Drugs Unit, the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) and other specialised units.

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 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 Waterford/Kilkenny Division will be given the fullest consideration.