Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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107. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the fact that County Kildare has the lowest ratio of gardaí to population of any Garda district in the country; if her attention has been further drawn to the fact that such under-investment makes it impossible to engage in effective community policing; if it is her objective to seek a resolution to the extreme imbalances in Garda resourcing which exist around the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43812/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, one of the primary functions of the Garda Commissioner under the Garda Síochána Acts, is to direct and control An Garda Síochána. In this regard, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of all resources, including fully sworn members and Reserve Gardaí, among the Garda Regions, Divisions and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review in the context of security assessments, crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources.

I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of Kildare Garda Division on 30 September 2014, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 305. There are also 41 Garda Reserves and 28 Civilians attached to the Division.

The Deputy will be aware that all Gardaí have responsibility, inter alia, to deal with community policing issues as and when they arise. Community policing is the underpinning philosophy and ethos through which An Garda Síochána delivers a service across the country.

As the Deputy will be aware the first intake since 2009 of 100 new recruits entered training at the Garda College in Templemore on Monday 15th September 2014. This marked a positive step forward for policing in Ireland. Furthermore, the process of recruiting 200 additional Gardaí to the force will continue over the next few months. The Garda Commissioner, will of course, continue to keep the needs of the Kildare Garda Division under review within the overall context of the needs of Garda Divisions throughout the country.