Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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148. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will prioritise the deployment of more gardaí on the northside of Dublin in view of a 20% increase in burglaries there in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8707/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel, among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review in the context of 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 each Garda Station in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (D.M.R.) North Garda Division and (D.M.R.) North Central on 31 December 2014, the latest date for which figures are readily available, is set out in the following tables.

I was very pleased that my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform agreed to the resumption of Garda recruitment. Last September, 100 new Garda recruits entered training at the Garda College in Templemore, the first intake of Garda recruits since May 2009. This was followed by an intake of a further 100 recruits in December and a third intake of 100 this month. This means that there are now 300 Garda students in training. The Garda Commissioner, will of course, continue to keep the needs of D.M.R. North and North Central Garda Divisions under review within the overall context of the needs of Garda Divisions throughout the country.

I remain in discussion with my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on the timing of future intakes of Garda recruits.

D.M.R. North Division