Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 13 May 2003

Vol. 566 No. 3

Written Answers. - Garda Strength.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

401 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí available for patrol in each Garda station in County Kildare at any given time; his plans to increase this number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12984/03]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

406 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the current Garda strength in the various stations throughout County Kildare; his plans to increase the numbers at each or any station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12989/03]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Cullen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 401 and 406 together.

I am informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength – all ranks – of each Garda station in County Kildare as on 12 May 2003 is as set out hereunder:

Station	Strength
Naas	77
Clane	6
Kill	3
Celbridge	19
Maynooth	14
Kildare	28
Newbridge	27
Robertstown	3
Kilcullen	3
Carbury	2
Monasterevin	3
Rathangan	3
Athy	17
Castledermot	2
Ballitore	1
Ballymore Eustace	1
Leixlip	23
Kilcock	6

For security and operational reasons it is not Garda policy to disclose the number of Garda personnel on duty in a particular station at any given time.

The allocation of resources to Garda stations in County Kildare will be kept under review and when additional personnel next become available the needs of those Garda stations will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda stations throughout the country.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

402 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí available for patrol duties throughout the country at any given time; his plans to increase this number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12985/03]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

The Minister has been informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that Garda personnel are deployed in a variety of shift patterns in order to maximise the available resources during the periods of most demand.

While the number of Garda personnel on duty on any given day can vary from day to day and location to location according to the exigencies of the service, the Minister has been informed by the Garda Commissioner that, in 2002, a total of 2,301 gardaí were available for duty at any one time out of a total Garda strength of 11,895.

The Deputy will be aware that the Cabinet has authorised the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to make the greatest possible use of the existing capacity of the Garda Training College in Templemore over the next two years to bring the strength of the force to 12,200, its current authorised maximum strength.

A new Garda recruitment competition is under way. It is planned that 660 Garda trainees will be taken into the Garda Training College during 2003. The Garda Commissioner has projected, based on the anticipated rate of retirement, that this level of recruitment will result in the maximum authorised strength of 12,200 being achieved during 2004.

The Minister has already informed this House that he will not be content with raising the strength of the Garda Síochána to an historic high of 12,200, and higher again as soon as budgetary circumstances permit the Government to make progress towards the target of 14,000 provided in the programme for Government for achievement by 2007. The Minister also intends to increase, as soon as circumstances permit, the number of Garda members available for front-line policing through a process of civilianisation.