I have increased Garda numbers in the past three years by 600 members and am on course to meet the Government target of a Garda strength of 12,000 by the year 2002. While I, as Minister, am responsible for providing additional Garda personnel, their detailed allocation to an individual area is a matter for the Garda authorities.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that 138 new probationer gardaí are due to be attested at the Garda College in Templemore in December 2000 and will be allocated to Garda divisions shortly thereafter. I am further informed that when this allocation is taking place, the needs of Carlow-Kildare will be fully considered in the overall context of the needs of other Garda divisions throughout the country.
The Deputy may be aware that the annual report of An Garda Síochána for 1999 shows a decrease of 5% in the number of indictable offences recorded in the Carlow-Kildare division. This followed the 2% decrease recorded in 1998.