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, including the new recruits, 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 Roscommon/Longford Garda Division and Westmeath Garda Division as of 30 April 2015, the latest date for which figures are available has a total strength of 284 and 242 respectively. There are also 13 and 24 Garda Reserves and 24 and 21 Civilians attached to the two Divisions respectively.

The first intake since 2009 of 100 new recruits entered training at the Garda College, Templemore, on 15 September 2014. As part of Budget 2015, a further intake of 200 recruits in two batches was announced. On 15 December 2014, the first 100 of these batches commenced their training. The remaining 100 entered the college in early February. This brought to 300 the number of recruits in the Garda College and is a measure of the Government's commitment to ensure that recruitment to An Garda Síochána continues seamlessly. In addition, I have received sanction from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for two further intakes of 125 Garda recruits later this year. The September 2014 intake were attested as members of the Garda Síochána in April 2015 and were assigned to Garda Stations throughout the country. The December intake will attest in July 2015.

On attestation, new Probationer Gardaí are assigned to Garda stations throughout the country by the Garda Commissioner and the needs of all Garda Divisions will be fully considered. The allocation of Garda personnel is determined by a number of factors including population, crime trends and the policing needs of each individual Division. These matters will be considered, in conjunction with the training needs of the Probationer Gardaí, when allocating these new Gardaí.