Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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120. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which she expects to increase Garda Síochána strength at various stations arising from the ongoing recruitment programme, with particular reference to augmenting strength at stations that experienced reduced manpower in recent years, with particular reference to the need to address the demographics and ensure the maximisation of policing capability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35249/15]

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, including new Probationer Gardaí, among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of resources.

This Government is committed to the ongoing recruitment of trainee Gardaí, and to this end the first intake since 2009 of new recruits commenced training at the Garda College, Templemore, in September of last year.

To date there has been four intakes of Garda Trainees to the Garda College, giving a total intake of 400. A further 150 recruits will enter college by year end, bringing total recruitment of Garda Trainees to 550. So far 295 of the new Garda Trainees have attested as members of An Garda Síochána. On attestation, new Probationer Gardaí are assigned to Garda stations throughout the country by the Garda Commissioner, where they are assigned to mainstream uniform policing duties. I am assured by Garda management that the needs of all Garda Divisions are fully considered when determining the allocation of newly attested Gardaí.

The increased budget allocation for An Garda Síochána in 2016 which I announced last week, provides for the recruitment of 600 new Gardaí in addition to the 550 that will be recruited by year end. The ongoing recruitment of new Gardaí is crucial to An Garda Síochána and for the safety of communities throughout the State. This ramped-up recruitment underscores the determination of this Government to deliver an effective, responsive police service to protect our communities and respond to emerging crime trends.

This additional recruitment is being further supported by reform and efficiency measures. For example, the civilianisation of frontline immigration control procedures at Dublin Airport is freeing up Gardaí for core policing duties and allowing the much reduced number of Gardaí who will continue to be based at the airport to focus on the policing and intelligence aspects of border control rather than routine immigration and passport checks.