Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 139: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will carry out a revision of Garda strength and deployment in respect of division, district and station throughout County Kildare with particular reference to increasing Garda strength in reasonable ratios to the population which has increased dramatically in the past 10 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13377/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 140: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will increase Garda strength at the various stations throughout County Kildare in line with the population increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13378/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 139 and 140 together.

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.

I have been further informed by the Garda authorities that the personnel strength of the Carlow/Kildare Division on 31 December 1997 and on 2 April 2007 was 281 and 390 (all ranks) respectively. This represents an increase of 109 (or 38.7%) in the number of personnel allocated since that date.

The national population in 1996 was 3,626,087 while the Garda strength was 10,285. This established a ratio of 1 Garda member for every 335 persons. If the population increased to 4.5 m by 2012, a Garda strength of 13,433 would be required to maintain this 335:1 ratio. Under the current Garda recruitment programme approved by the Government, the strength of the force will have increased to 15,000 by 2012. Based on a population assumption of 4.5 million, this represents a ratio of 1 Garda for every 300 persons.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Central Statistics Office are presently examining the 2006 Census of Population figures in relation to Small Area Population Statistics (SAPS). It is not expected that these SAPS figures will be available until October 2007. It is therefore not possible to provide an accurate ratio of the extent to which the deployment of Gardaí in terms of ratio to the population has improved in line with demographic trends at present.

I should also add that it is the responsibility of the Divisional Officer to allocate personnel within his/her Division. Garda Personnel assigned throughout the country, together with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy, are continually monitored and reviewed. Such monitoring ensures that optimum use is made of Garda resources, and the best possible Garda service is provided to the general public.