Written answers

Thursday, 7 December 2006

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Garda Deployment

7:00 pm

Photo of Joe CostelloJoe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 32: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí currently assigned to community policing; the proportion of the overall force this represents; his plans to increase the number of community gardaí; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41910/06]

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 by the Garda authorities that the number of Gardaí assigned to Community Policing as at 30 September, 2006 was 482 (all ranks). This figure represents almost 4% of the current personnel strength of An Garda Síochána.

I should add that it is the responsibility of Garda management to allocate personnel to and within Divisions. This includes the allocation of personnel to Community Garda Units. These personnel allocations are determined by a number of factors including demographics, crime trends, administrative functions and other operational policing needs. 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.

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. In October 2004, I announced that I was proceeding with the Government's promise to recruit 2,000 additional Gardaí over the life of the Government and an implementation plan to achieve that expansion was drawn up in consultation with the Commissioner.

That plan envisaged a recruiting strategy that would see the combined strength of the Force reaching some 14,044 Gardaí (including trainees) by the end of 2006. The overall strength of the Force, including recruits in training is now in fact some 14,137. So, we have delivered on our target well ahead of schedule.

Implementation Plan
Recruitment 2004-2008
Year EndingNew Entrant IntakeTotal (including trainees)Total (excluding trainees)
200452312,74312,220
20051,09613,38812,292
20061,09614,04412,948
20071,09714,62713,530
200866114,66114,000

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 Community Policing will be given the fullest consideration.

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