Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 720: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Carlow/Kildare division is the worst manned Garda division, at one garda to every 558 people whilst the Clare division has one garda to every 312 people; his views on this inequitable distribution of gardaí; and if he will take action to rectify the matter. [17553/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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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 the Carlow/Kildare Division as at the 31 May 2007 was 389 and that the personnel strength (all ranks) of the Clare Division as at the 31 May 2007 was 289.

The allocation of Garda personnel is a matter for the Garda Commissioner and is determined by a number of factors including demographics, crime trends and the policing needs of each individual Division. It is also the case that a number of Garda national units have been established in recent years, for example, the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigations (GBFI), other specialist units and the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB). These units provide specialised policing services on a nationwide basis and augment the policing services provided at divisional level.

The number of Garda personnel assigned throughout the country, together with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy, are continually monitored and reviewed by Garda Management. Such monitoring is aimed at ensuring that optimum use is made of Garda resources, and that the best possible Garda service is provided to the general public. The next allocation of Probationer Gardaí is due to take place in September 2007. The needs of the Carlow/Kildare and Clare Divisions will be considered in this context by the Garda Commissioner.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 721: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí assigned to each Garda division as of 20 June 2007. [17562/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The latest date for which the numbers requested by the Deputy are readily available is 31 May 2007. These are set out in the table.

The figures shown represent the number of Gardaí based in Garda Stations throughout the country. In this regard, I would like to point out that a number of Garda national units have been established in recent years, for example, the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigations (GBFI), the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) and other specialist units. These units provide specialised policing services on a nationwide basis and augment the policing services provided at divisional level. The personnel strength of the national units is over and above the strength of the various operational Garda divisions. In addition, the figures provided do not include the number of Gardaí based in Garda Headquarters or the Garda Training College in Templemore.