Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 70: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the 180 gardaí deployed to Rossport, County Mayo in view of the fact that only five gardaí were deployed to the Moyross Estate, Limerick recently when serious crimes were taking place on an almost daily basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32493/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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At the outset, I wish to inform the Deputy that the allocation of Garda resources is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. It is the responsibility of the Divisional Officer to allocate personnel 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 have been informed by the Garda authorities that an Operational Order is currently in place to police the situation at the Corrib development site in Rossport, Co. Mayo. I am further informed that the purpose of the Garda action is to enable contractors and their workers to go about their lawful business unhindered and to allow people to demonstrate peacefully without impinging on the rights of others. A total of 114 Gardaí (all ranks) were moved on Temporary Transfer to Belmullet Garda Station on 2 October, 2006, with 45 Gardaí (all ranks) returning to their permanent Stations in the Dublin Metropolitan Region with effect from 5 October, 2006. Local senior Garda management is continuing to monitor the situation and personnel requirements in the Rossport area are reviewed on an on-going basis.

I have also been informed that an additional 5 Gardaí were allocated to the Mayorstone Park Garda Station on permanent transfer as policing requirements in the Moyross area of Limerick dictated the need for such permanent transfers. Garda management state that the Moyross area of Limerick is regularly patrolled by uniform and plain-clothes units, supplemented by the Divisional Units, including the Traffic Corps and Mountain Bike Unit as well as District and Divisional Detective and Drug Units.

Garda management further state that during the recent outbreak of serious gun related incidents significant additional resources were deployed in the area, including additional armed patrols from within the Division, funded under Operation Anvil and supported by the Emergency Response Unit. Personnel from neighbouring Garda Divisions were allocated temporarily, to the Limerick Division and an initiative under Operation 'Assist', utilising the Garda Mounted and Dog Units was also put in place in the Division, in conjunction with local policing operations.

Garda management further state that additional resources have recently been added to the local Community Policing Unit specifically assigned to the Moyross Estates. 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.