Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 209: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number and location of Garda stations in the Milford electoral area that have closed in the past ten years; the number and locations of the Garda stations that are currently operational within the Milford electoral area; the hours that each station is currently open; the number of Gardaí who are stationed at each of the stations; if more Gardaí are scheduled to be posted within the Milford electoral area; and, if so, the date by which the increase in personnel will take place. [30457/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength (all ranks) of An Garda Síochána increased to a record 12,762 on Friday, 8 September, 2006, following the attestation of 249 new members. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June, 1997 and represents an increase of 2,060 (or 19%) in the personnel strength of the Force during that period. The Garda Budget now stands at €1.3 billion, a 13% increase on 2005 and an 85% increase since 1997 in real terms.

I have been further informed by the Garda authorities that no Garda Stations in the Milford District have closed in the past ten years. Milford station is the District Headquarters station and is open on a twenty four hour basis. The personnel strength (all ranks) of each of the Garda stations and their opening hours in the Milford District as at 2 October, 2006 was as set out in the following table.

Local Garda Management report that members attached to Dunfanaghy Garda Station attend Creeslough Garda Station to ensure it is open at the specified times, however this is determined by resource availability and the rostered tour of duty of the members attached to Dunfanaghy Garda Station.

Milford Garda District forms part of the Donegal Division. In addition, I would point out to the Deputy that the Garda resources for this Division 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 three groups of newly attested Gardaí under this accelerated recruitment programme came on stream in March, June and September of this year and the fourth such group will become fully attested members of the Force later this year. 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.