Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 723: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the number of burglaries that occur in rural areas, particularly in south Galway in more recent times; his views on whether there are enough gardaí to contend with this development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38489/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that on 30 September, 2009, the latest date for which figures are available, the personnel strength of Galway Garda Division was 601.

The Garda Commissioner, with his senior managers and Divisional Officers, arranges for the allocation of Garda personnel throughout the State. Garda management is aided in this by a distribution model known as the Garda Establishment Redistribution Model (GERM).

I am advised by the Commissioner that this model indicates the most effective means to distribute Garda personnel and acts as a guide to Garda management decision making. It takes into account many different policing variables, including crime trends, socio-economic factors, census information and the minimum establishment required for each District. The allocation of Garda personnel is determined by these factors and also takes account of the policing requirements of each individual Division.