Written answers

Tuesday, 21 November 2006

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Garda Deployment

9:00 am

Photo of Tom McEllistrimTom McEllistrim (Kerry North, Fianna Fail)
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Question 237: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to tackle anti-social behaviour in Tralee; the resources he has allocated to Gardaí in recent months to deal with the problem; and the impact of the community policing initiative in Tralee. [39063/06]

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that current policing plans for the Tralee area are predicated on the prevention of anti-social and public order offences, the prevention of crime, including crimes of violence against persons and property, and the maintenance of an environment conducive to the improvement of quality of life of the residents. This strategy is, and will continue to be, central to the delivery of a policing service to the area. I am advised that to date in 2006 there have been almost 1,000 arrests made for public order/anti-social behaviour offences in Tralee.

I am further informed that in order to maintain public order in the town and reduce the numbers of people leaving licensed premises at peak times, and as a result of submissions made by local Garda management, the latest permitted finishing time for special exemptions, granted by the District Court for the Tralee area, has been changed from 2.30 am to 2.00 am. In addition, the CCTV system currently in place is being reviewed to ensure optimum coverage of the town. I am also informed that nine additional Gardaí have been allocated to Tralee Garda District, which now has a personnel strength of 96 (all ranks). This has been beneficial to policing in terms of enforcement and visibility. The Community Policing Unit pays particular attention to outlying estates by way of foot and mountain bike patrols. Extra patrols by uniform and plain-clothes Gardaí have been put in place by local management, and, utilising resources under Operation Anvil, public disorder hotspots are being actively targeted, particularly at weekends.

Garda Youth Diversion Projects are a tangible measure of crime prevention and reflect the commitment of my Department and the Garda Síochána to multi-agency partnership approaches to tackling crime and anti-social behaviour at community level. The role of the youth diversion projects is to bring about conditions whereby the behavioural patterns of young people towards law and order can develop and mature through positive interventions and interaction with the project. There is currently one project in Tralee, Connect 7.

It is my intention that 100 projects will be established nationwide before the end of 2007. Recently I announced the establishment of ten new projects in the first phase of the expansion of the scheme, bringing the total number of projects to 74. Two of the ten projects are located in Tralee.

Photo of Tom McEllistrimTom McEllistrim (Kerry North, Fianna Fail)
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Question 238: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will assign more Gardaí to Castleisland for immigration duties at Kerry Airport in Farranfore; the position regarding plans to build a new Garda station in Castleisland; the increase in the number of Gardaí assigned to Garda stations in north Kerry since 2002; and his plans to assign more Gardaí to north Kerry in the months ahead. [39065/06]

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael 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 13,000 on Thursday, 16 November, 2006, following the attestation of 299 new members. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June, 1997 and represents an increase of 2,298 (or 21.5%) 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 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.

Garda boundaries do not always correlate with County and Electoral boundaries. I have been further informed that the personnel strength (all ranks) of the Kerry Division as at 31 December, 1997 and 2002, and as at 20 November, 2006 was as set out in the table hereunder:

DateStrength
31/12/97230
31/12/02266
20/11/06294

This represents an increase of 64 (or 27.8%) in the number of Garda personnel allocated to the Kerry Division during the period above. 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.

Local Garda management report that with the continued expansion at Kerry (Farranfore) Airport, a review of policing and Immigration requirements at Kerry Airport has commenced. I understand that the Office of Public Works expect to have a Sketch Scheme ready, for the new Garda Area Headquarters Station at Castleisland by the end of the year, for submission to my Department and the Garda authorities.

I further understand that on approval of the Sketch Scheme the OPW expect to initiate the requisite planning process early next year. The Deputy can be assured that my officials will continue to liaise closely with the OPW with a view to addressing the accommodation needs of the Gardaí at Castleisland.

I should add that 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.

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 239: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will provide more details on the placement of personnel (details supplied) in County Mayo. [39122/06]

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael 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 13,000 on Thursday, 16 November, 2006, following the attestation of 299 new members. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June, 1997 and represents an increase of 2,298 (or 21.5%) 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 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.

I have been further informed that on 17 November, 2006, 3 Probationer Gardaí were allocated from the Garda College, Templemore to Garda Stations within the Mayo Garda Division as set out in the following table:

StationGardaí
Ballina1
Belmullet1
Swinford1

I have also been informed that on 22 November, 2006, 3 Gardaí will transfer to Garda Stations within the Mayo Garda Division as set out in the following table:

StationGardaí
Castlebar1
Belmullet1
Claremorris1

I should add that 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.

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