Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 22 Nov 2000

Vol. 526 No. 4

Written Answers. - Garda Deployment.

Alan Shatter

Question:

321 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí stationed in each county; the number assigned to each Garda station in each county; the corresponding figures for five years, 10 years, 15 years and 20 years ago; and the proposed increases in the number of gardai stationed in each county to be implemented within the next 12 months. [26911/00]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

I am informed by the Garda authorities who are responsible for the detailed allocation of personnel to individual areas that the specific information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in the format requested and could only be obtained by the expenditure of a disproportionate amount of Garda time and resources. I might also add that the Garda Commissioner is not generally in favour, for operational reasons, of releasing details of individual Garda station strengths in Garda districts throughout the country and I also share that concern.

I am, however, informed that the personnel strength, all ranks, in each operational Garda division as of 1 January for the years 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000 and 1 November 2000 is as set out hereunder:

Division	1980	1985	1990	1995	2000	1st Nov 2000
Carlow/Kildare	215	278	256	293	307	304
Cavan/Monaghan	407	437	428	415	376	383
Clare	201	236	209	211	233	237
Cork City	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	571	594
Cork North	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	250	246
Cork East	717	830	791	768	N/A	N/A
Cork West	216	246	227	232	236	238
DMA East	339	475	422	501	543	538
DMA North Central	512	565	482	552	610	591
DMA North	476	724	714	761	573	585
DMA South Central	753	922	862	964	793	769
DMA South	462	644	609	689	476	499
DMA West	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	560	583
Donegal	464	492	491	473	439	432
Galway West	265	316	307	319	323	335
Kerry	210	245	231	235	246	253
Division	1980	1985	1990	1995	2000	1st Nov 2000
Laois/Offaly	298	360	329	305	275	277
Limerick	451	541	511	457	430	434
Longford/Westmeath	222	262	248	250	237	245
Louth/Meath	425	490	473	472	543	539
Mayo	230	258	253	253	261	257
Roscommon/Galway	233	260	242	238	251	251
Sligo/Leitrim	237	283	263	265	257	266
Tipperary	267	317	279	287	304	314
Waterford/Kilkenny	290	328	300	301	329	330
Wexford	236	265	249	276	290	295

The above figures reflect changes to Garda divisional boundaries that occurred during the time periods referred to above.

I am also informed that five intakes of trainee gardaí totalling 639 trainee gardaí are scheduled to be attested to the Garda Síochána between December 2000 and December 2001. As each intake of trainee gardaí are attested, the needs of each Garda division will be considered in the overall context of the needs of the country.