Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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332. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to increase the number of Garda Síochána in east Meath; to review the operational control of this district which is under the Ashbourne area, and to place it in a new district including Drogheda. [6881/16]

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 resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and Districts and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources.

Ashbourne Garda District is in the Meath Garda Division. I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that of the 277 Gardaí assigned to the Division, 103 are assigned to the Ashbourne District. There are also 9 Garda Reserves and 5 civilians attached to the District.

Since the Garda College reopened in September 2014, there have been seven intakes of Garda Trainees giving a total intake of 700, with a further 450 to be recruited this year. So far 395 of the new Garda Trainees have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned by the Garda Commissioner to Garda stations throughout the country to carry out mainstream uniform policing duties. I have been informed that of these, 15 have been assigned to the Meath Division. I am assured by Garda management that the needs of all Garda Divisions are fully considered when determining the allocation of newly attested Gardaí.

There are currently no plans to alter the existing Districts. Any proposals of this nature must be included in the draft annual policing plan prepared by the Garda Commissioner for the approval of the Policing Authority and the consent of the Minister for Justice and Equality in accordance with section 22 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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333. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to increase the number of Garda Síochána in the Drogheda, Dundalk and north County Louth area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6882/16]

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 resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and Districts and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources.

I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that on the 29 February 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available, there were 285 members assigned to Louth Garda Division. The table attached sets out the distribution of these Gardaí throughout that Division.

I am further informed that the work of local Gardaí in the Louth Division is augmented by a number of Garda national units which are assisting with covert and overt operations targeting prolific criminals and dissidents who reside within and outside this jurisdiction. Furthermore there is ongoing liaison between An Garda Síochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland under the auspices of an agreed Cross-Border Policing Strategy to continue the excellent levels of cooperation between both police services in addressing crime and terrorist activities in all its manifestations.

As the Deputy will appreciate it is vital that An Garda Síochána is renewed in order to ensure that it has the capacity to provide effective and visible policing throughout the country. With this objective in mind, there have been seven intakes of Garda Trainees to the Garda College since it was reopened in September 2014 giving a total intake of 700. A further 450 will be taken in this year. So far 395 of the new Garda Trainees have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream uniform duties in communities nationwide. The Garda Commissioner has informed me that 18 of these newly attested members have been assigned to the Louth Division. I am assured by the Commissioner that the needs of all Garda Divisions are fully considered when determining the allocation of newly attested Gardaí.

Louth Garda Division 29 February 2016