Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 213: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the extent to which the number of gardaí deployed to the various Garda divisions throughout Leinster has increased in the past six years; the extent to which the civilian population has increased in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36588/06]

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 induction of 280 new Garda recruits to the Garda College on 6 November, 2006 has resulted in a combined strength, of both attested Gardaí and recruits in training, of 14,137. The Garda Budget now stands at €1.3 billion, a 13% increase on 2005 and an 85% increase since 1997 in real terms.

The Garda Divisional boundaries do not correlate exactly with the Provincial and County boundaries. I have been informed that the personnel strength (all ranks) of each operational Garda Division within the Leinster area as at 31 December, 2000 and as at 3 November, 2006 was as set out in the table hereunder. I can inform the Deputy that based on the definitive Census figures available, which are the 2002 census figures, the population of Leinster was 2,105,579. This figure will of course require to be adjusted in due course when the final report of the 2006 Census is available.