Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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92. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí on duty in each division, district and station in County Kildare over three eight-hour shifts on any given day or night in each of the past 12 months; the extent to which enhancement is required in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17614/16]

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 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 these resources.

In regard to the deployment of Garda personnel, a distribution model is used which takes into account all relevant factors including population, crime trends and as the policing needs of each individual Division dictates. It is the responsibility of the Divisional Officer to allocate personnel within his/her Division.

I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that on the 30 April 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available, there were 311 Gardaí assigned to the Kildare Garda Division. The following table gives the detailed breakdown of these members. The Division is also supported by 29 Garda Reserves and 27 civilians. All Divisional resources are further augmented by a number of Garda National Units such as the Garda National Drugs Unit (GNDU), the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) and other specialised units.

As the Deputy will be aware, when the financial crisis hit, the Government of the time introduced a moratorium on recruitment and the four year National Recovery Plan, published in 2010, envisaged a steady reduction in Garda numbers. Thankfully, in a recovering economy, we were able to reopen the Garda College in September 2014, and a total of 700 Garda trainees have been recruited with a further 450 planned to be recruited during the remainder of this year. So far 463 of the new Garda trainees have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream uniform duties nationwide. Another 76 will attest on the 7 July with 150 more to attest in November. I am assured by the Commissioner that the needs of all Garda Divisions are fully considered when determining the allocation of newly attested Gardaí and that 25 newly attested Gardaí have been assigned to the Kildare Garda Division to date.

This Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime. Key to achieving this goal is the commitment in the Programme for Government, "A Programme for a Partnership Government" tocontinue the ongoing accelerated Garda recruitment programme with a view to increasing Garda numbers to 15,000.

Taking account of projected retirements, the current rate of recruitment will bring Garda numbers to around the 13,000 mark this year. We must, I believe, endeavour to make more rapid progress than this to reach our target of 15,000 and I am engaging with my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, in relation to increasing the planned annual intake this year and in coming years.

Kildare Garda Division 30 April 2016