Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 98: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of community Gardaí who live in the community that they serve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13180/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am 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 13,178 following the attestation of 273 new members on Wednesday 14 March, 2007. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) on 30 June, 1997 and represents an increase of 2,476 (or over 23%) in the personnel strength of the Force during that period. The combined strength (all ranks), of both attested Gardaí and recruits in training on 14 March, 2007 was 14,258. Furthermore, I should say that on 19 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 1,100 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.

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. All Gardaí have a responsibility, inter alia, to be involved in Community Policing issues as they arise.

Garda management state that the total personnel strength (all ranks) of Community policing on 29 March 2007 was 521. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the information sought by the Deputy in relation to the number of Community Gardaí who live in the communities they serve is not readily available and can only be obtained by the disproportionate expenditure of Garda time and resources.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 99: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of horses kept and maintained by An Garda Síochána; the cost of the Garda Mounted Unit; the number of members assigned to the unit and their respective ranks; and the number of civilian personnel assigned to the unit. [13181/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I have been informed by the Garda authorities that there are a total of ten horses attached to the Garda Mounted Unit at present. The cost of running the Garda Mounted Unit in 2006 was approximately €1.19 million. The total number of personnel assigned to the Garda Mounted Unit as at the 30th March 2007 was 17, comprising 2 sergeants, 13 Gardaí and 2 civilian personnel.