Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 113: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, in view of the need for the deployment of the maximum possible number of trained gardaí in the battle against criminal gangs, he will undertake a review of the use of trained detectives as drivers for Ministers and other designated persons and the possible filling of at least some of these posts by civilian drivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15587/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The allocation of duties among members of the Garda Síochána, including security and protection duties, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner, who has made clear the priority he attaches to front-line operational policing through measures such as Operation Anvil and the recent establishment of the Organised Crime Unit.

There has been a very considerable increase in Garda resources in recent years, with the number of attested members rising from 10,968 at the end of 1997 to 11,895 at the end of 2002, to 13,755 at the end of 2007 and to 14,371 in the most recent figures. Even in this year of budgetary constraints, some 900 student Gardai will become attested which, taking into account projected retirements, will further increase the strength of the Force to 14,900 by the end of this year.

The number of civilian support staff, expressed as a whole time equivalent figure, has also increased in recent years from 1,688 at the end of 2007 to 2,133 in the most recent figures.

This significant increase in resources have considerably enhanced the capacity of the Garda Síochána to combat organised crime.