Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 75: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he expects the information promised in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 263 of 3 October 2006 to be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3208/07]

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 13,000 following the attestation of 299 new members on Thursday, 16 November, 2006. 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 combined strength (all ranks), of both attested Gardaí and recruits in training as at the 31 December 2006 was 14,068. Furthermore, I should say that in December, 2006 as part of a package of anti-crime measures, the Government approved the continuation of the existing Garda recruitment programme to achieve a total Garda strength of 15,000. The accelerated intake of 275 new recruits per quarter into the Garda College will continue until this target is met. The Garda Budget now stands at €1.4 billion, an 11% increase on 2006 and a 96% increase since 1997 in real terms.

As the Deputy will be aware, the information requested in Parliamentary Question No. 263 of 3 October, 2006 was not available at the time. However, I have since been informed by the Garda authorities that the new Garda station in Carbury has been in operation since 2 June, 2006. The personnel strength of the station as at 30 January, 2007 was 2 (all ranks). The opening hours of Carbury Garda Station are as set out in the table hereunder:

Garda management state that outside of these opening hours, the P.A.C.B. (Public Access Call Box) system is in place and calls are diverted to Kildare Garda station. Garda management further state that the former Carbury Garda Station is owned by the Office of Public Works and a final decision has not yet been made whether or not the former station will be required for Garda use.