Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 183: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the average number of Garda foot patrols in each Garda district per month. [8496/07]

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 approximately 1100 new recruits per annum 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.

An Garda Síochána is committed to delivering a highly visible, high quality, community focused policing service to the public throughout the State. An Garda Síochána deploy a variety of operational strategies in delivering this service. The strategies vary from place to place and from time to time on the basis of an analysis of the prevailing demands. Personnel are deployed in uniform or plain clothes, on foot, mobile, cycle, mounted, marine or aerial patrols. Matters such as patrol purpose, size and nature of patrol area, time, conditions, etc, are all factors that are considered when deciding on the appropriate strategies.

Arising from the number and range of variables which can apply at any time, it is not possible to quantify an average number of foot patrols per District per month.

Community Policing is a central feature of current policing policy and members of Community policing units are encouraged to engage with the local communities where they are assigned. Current policing policy is predicated on the prevention of 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 quality policing service. As additional resources become available more patrols by uniform and plain-clothes personnel will be part of future policing strategies.