Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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92. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 115 of 14 June 2016, relating to Garda numbers at Edgeworthstown Garda station, to clarify the reply provided, the facts of which are contrary to the ones held by a peace commissioner in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19268/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that the allocation of Gardaí is continually monitored and reviewed taking into account all relevant factors including crime trends, demographics, and security assessments relating to the area in question so as to ensure optimal use is made of Garda human resources.

As I stated in my reply to Parliamentary Question Number 115 of 14 June 2016, the area concerned is patrolled by members assigned to the Roscommon/Longford Division. I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the number of Gardaí assigned to the Division on the 31 May 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 298. Of these, 42 members were assigned to Granard Garda District and 11 to Edgeworthstown Garda Station, 9 Gardaí and 2 Sergeants. The detailed allocation of resources at Divisional level is a matter for the Divisional officer who may allocate resources between Garda stations as required by operational circumstances.

The Deputy may wish to note that the number of members assigned to the Division when the strength of An Garda Síochána was at its highest in September 2009 was 299, with 42 members assigned to Granard District and 6 in Edgeworthstown Station.

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. In a recovering economy, we were able to reopen the Garda College in September 2014, and a total of 851 Garda trainees have been recruited with a further 300 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 5 newly attested Gardaí have been assigned to the Roscommon/Longford Division to date.

The Programme for Government, "A Programme for a Partnership Government" commits tocontinuing 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.