Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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491. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda stations; the number of gardaí in each station in Waterford on 1 January 2011 and on 1 January 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1082/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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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 taking into account crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of Garda resources.

I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the number of Garda stations and the number of Gardaí in the Waterford Garda Division on 31 December 2010 and on 30 November 2015 (the latter being the latest date for which figures are readily available) was as set out in the tables below.

This Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the capacity to provide effective and visible policing throughout the country. A crucial element of the Government's strategy is ensuring ongoing seamless recruitment to renew An Garda Síochána. With this in mind Budget 2016 made provision for the recruitment of 600 new Gardaí this year bringing to 1,150 the number of new Gardaí who will have been recruited since the reopening of the Garda College in Templemore in September 2014. So far 295 of these new recruits have been fully attested and are undertaking Garda duties in communities nationwide. I am assured by Garda management that the needs of all Garda Divisions are fully considered when determining the allocation of newly attested Gardaí and in this context 14 Probationer Gardaí have been assigned to the Waterford Division.

I am very pleased that the 2016 recruitment campaign announced last November and which closed on 6 January has attracted strong interest with in the region of 16,500 applications received by the Public Appointments Service which is organising the competition on behalf of the Garda Commissioner.

Waterford Garda Division 31 December 2010

Waterford Garda Division 30 November 2015