Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a county breakdown of the number of Gardaí across the country in 2011 and 2012 and his plans for the strength of the force in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2049/13]

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a county breakdown of the number and location of each Garda station in the country; their general opening hours; changes in opening hours in 2010, 2011 and 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2050/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to answer Questions Nos. 143 and 144 together.

I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of An Garda Síochána on 31 December 2010, 2011 and 2012 was 14,377, 13,894 and 13,424 respectfully. The attached spreadsheets show the strength of each Garda station throughout the country on those dates. Also shown in three separate spreadsheets are the opening hours of each Garda Station in 2010, 2011 and 2012. The Deputy should note that the opening hours of rural Garda Stations are subject to manpower availability.

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 the moratorium continues to apply to the Garda Síochána, the question of when recruitment to the Garda Síochána should resume will be kept under continuing review in the context of retirements and the availability of resources. I will remain in dialogue with my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on this, but what is vital now is that the still significant resources of the Force are used with maximum efficiency and to the greatest effect. That is why the reforms being introduced by the Garda Commissioner, such as new rosters and the rationalisation of the Garda station and District networks, are essential.

The Excel spreadsheets are available as attachments at the top of the web page.