Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 64: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when extra Gardaí will be appointed to Miltown Malbay Garda Station, County Clare as promised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31357/06]

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 that the personnel strength (all ranks) of Miltown Malbay Garda Station as at 4 October, 2006 was 3. Miltown Malbay Garda Station forms part of the Clare Division. The personnel strength (all ranks) of the Clare Division as at 31 December, 1997 and 4 October, 2006 was 219 and 319, respectively, representing an increase of 100 (or 46%) in the number of Gardaí assigned to the Clare 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. Garda management state that 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 Miltown Malbay Garda station will be given the fullest consideration.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 65: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when extra Gardaí will be appointed to Lahinch Garda Station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31358/06]

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 also been informed by the Garda authorities that the personnel strength of Lahinch Garda Station as at 4 October, 2006 was 3 (all ranks). The personnel strength of Lahinch Garda Station as at 31 December, 1997 was 1 (all ranks). Lahinch Garda Station forms part of the Clare Division. The personnel strength (all ranks) of the Clare Garda Divisions as at 31 December, 1997 and 4 October, 2006 was 219 and 319, respectively, representing an increase 100 (or 46%) in the number of Garda personnel assigned to that division during that period.

In addition, I would point out 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. Garda management state that 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 areas referred to by the Deputy will be given the fullest consideration.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 66: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if 24 hour Garda cover is to be provided at Ardee Garda Station, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31359/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I refer the Deputy to my previous reply to Parliamentary Question No. 445 of 27 September, 2006 regarding the opening hours of Ardee Garda Station.

Garda personnel assigned to Ardee Garda Station, together with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy, are the responsibility of Garda management and are continually monitored and reviewed. I am informed that such monitoring ensures that optimum use is made of Garda resources, and the best possible Garda service is provided to the general public.

I have been further informed that Local Garda Management report that there is a local Garda presence between the hours of 8 a.m. and 2 a.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 4 a.m. at weekends. During the remaining periods Gardaí attached to the District Headquarters Station at Navan cover the Ardee Sub-District.

Resources are augmented from within the Division/District as required. The area is also patrolled by the District Detective Unit.