Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a breakdown, in tabular form, of the number of Gardaí in each District and rank in County Donegal for the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38872/12]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number and rank of positions within the Gardaí in each District in County Donegal that are not currently filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38873/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1273 and 1274 together.

The Deputy will be aware that the Commissioner is responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, throughout the organisation and I have no direct function in the matter. This allocation of resources is constantly monitored in the context of crime trends, policing needs and other operational strategies in place on a District, Divisional and Regional level to ensure optimum use is made of Garda resources and the best possible Garda service is provided to the public.

While regulations have previously provided for the numbers permitted in each rank, these have been upper ceilings for those numbers, rather than target strengths, and are set at a national rather than local level. It is therefore not generally practical to indicate precise levels of vacancies at the different ranks in specific locations.

I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of each Garda District in the Donegal Garda Division, by rank, on 31 December 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and on 31 July 2012, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was as set out in the tables below. There are also 24 Garda Reserves and 30 Civilians attached to the Donegal Garda Division. These resources are augmented, when appropriate, by Gardaí from national units.

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012