Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 219: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the Garda strength per district in Dublin and their rank and assigned duties on January 15 2007; and the number of civilians working in Garda stations in Dublin and other Garda departments on the same date. [4350/07]

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.

I have also been informed by the Garda Authorities that the personnel strength, by rank, of each operational Garda District within the Dublin Metropolitan Region as at the 15th January, 2007 is set out in the table, below:

The number of civilian staff working in Garda Stations in the Dublin Metropolitan Region as at the 15th January, 2007 was 198. The number of civilian staff in other Garda Offices in the Dublin Metropolitan Region at as the 15th January, 2007 was 281.

The Government has approved the further recruitment of 300 civilian staff to release Gardaí from administrative functions and free them up for operational policing duties. The accelerated recruitment campaign currently being carried out by the Public Appointments Service, on behalf of the Garda Commissioner, is to provide 50 new Clerical Officers for Dublin stations and offices every week until the process is complete.