Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if the numbers of Garda personnel decreased under the most recent Government prior to the current one; and if so, the number by which it decreased. [4976/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that it was the previous Government which undertook to reduce Garda strength to 13,000, as part of its commitment to the Troika to reduce public service numbers overall. Garda strength is now just over 13,400 with an additional 2,000 civilian support staff and 1,000 Garda Reserves. Current numbers are at the level they were at in 2006/7. Garda strength has been reducing due to, on the one hand, the moratorium on public sector recruitment introduced by the previous Government and, on the other, the level of voluntary Garda retirements. The personnel strength of An Garda Síochána at the end of each of the last four years is shown on the following table:-

On 31 March 2011, Garda strength was 14,327. I will remain in dialogue with my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on the issue of Garda resources.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if the most recent Government prior to the current one agreed to reduce the numbers of Garda personnel as part of the first Memorandum of Understanding with the Troika; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4977/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The previous Governments National Recovery Plan covered in detail the reductions in public service numbers to be effected in the period 2010-2014. In relation to the Garda Síochána, the proposals outlined a reduction in Garda numbers from 14,500 on 31 December 2010 to 13,500 on 31 December 2011 with a further reduction to 13,350 to be effected by 31 December 2012. It further required reductions by 31 December 2013 to 13,150 and by 31 December 2014 to 13,000.