Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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119. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the total strength of the Garda Síochána in County Kildare as of 31 December in each year from 2005 to 2015 and to date in 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27177/16]

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 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.

The detailed information requested on the strength of An Garda Síochána in the Kildare Garda Division from 31 December 2005 - 2015 and on the 31 August 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available, is set out in the table beneath.

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 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, reaching a strength of 15,000 will require some 3,200 new Garda members to be recruited on a phased basis over the next four years in addition to the 1,200 that will have been recruited by the end of this year since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014. So far 534 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána of whom 25 of these have been assigned to Kildare. Another 150 will attest later this year and will be assigned to mainstream uniform duties nationwide.

In order to continue to ensure seamless ongoing recruitment I was very pleased to announce the commencement of a new recruitment campaign on 8 September. The campaign is being organised by the Public Appointments Service on behalf of the Garda Commissioner. Applications must be made throughwww.publicjobs.iebefore the closing date for applications on 29 September 2016. The existing recruitment campaign (launched last November) is ongoing and successful candidates will continue to be called from that campaign this year and into next year. It is expected that successful candidates from the new campaign will enter the Garda College from mid-2017. Kildare Garda Division, and all other Garda Division, will undoubtedly benefit from these resources now coming on stream.

*In 2009 the Carlow/Kildare Division was split to form the Kildare Division and the Carlow/Kilkenny Division. These figures include Garda Members assigned to Garda Stations in Kildare only.