Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 169: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans he has to increase the allocation of gardaí to the Limerick area in general and particularly to areas such as Moyross that have suffered particular problems of crime and vandalism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30617/06]

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 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.

The personnel strength of the Limerick division as at the 31st of December, 2002 was 460 Gardaí (all ranks). The personnel strength of the Limerick Division as at the 27th September, 2006 was 512 Gardaí (all ranks). This represents an increase of 52 Gardaí (or 11.3%) in the number of personnel allocated to the Limerick Division since the 31st of December 2002.

The Moyross area of Limerick is policed by Gardaí attached to Mayorstone Park Garda Station. The personnel strength (all ranks) of Mayorstone Garda Station as at 31 December, 2002 and 27 September, 2006 was 41 and 49, respectively. This includes one (1) Sergeant and three (3) Gardaí allocated to Mayorstone Garda Station on the 21st September, 2006. This represents an increase of 8 (or 19.5%) during that period. An additional one (1) Garda is due to be allocated to Mayorstone Park Garda Station with effect from the 10th October, 2006.

Local Garda Management report that the issues surrounding the provision of policing resources to the Moyross area have been given priority attention by Garda Management in Limerick over the past several years. The policing plan in place for the Moyross area of Limerick City is most comprehensive and this has been the situation for some time to allow Garda management monitor criminal activity. Additional resources have been provided to the Moyross area as occasions have demanded from time to time and Garda personnel have dealt professionally with all of the incidents that have arisen in this general area.

I am further informed that apart from routine patrols conducted by uniformed and plain-clothes units based at Mayorstone Garda Station, a number of additional patrolling initiatives are in place to deal with the unique policing situation in Moyross. A dedicated uniform mobile patrol, consisting of 1 Sergeant and 2 Gardaí, performa specific night-time patrol of the Moyrossarea.

Garda management state that Community policing is an important element of the policing strategy in Moyross. A vehicle is allocated to the Unit which is utilised, full-time, in the Moyross area. A well established and active Youth Diversion Project is also in place, for many years, in the Moyross area.

Garda management further state that there is well established and ongoing liaison between An Garda Síochána and the other leading agencies in Limerick City who provide services for the Moyross area.

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 Moyross will be given the fullest consideration.