Tom Hayes
Question:46 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans to increase the size of the Garda Síochána force in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32568/04]
View answerWednesday, 8 December 2004
Questions (47)
Written answers
I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of the Louth-Meath division on 6 December 2004 was 536, all ranks. That figure represents an increase of 38, or 7.6%, in the number of personnel allocated to the Louth-Meath division since 1 January 1998, when the figure stood at 498. The deployment of Garda personnel throughout the country, along with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy, is continually monitored and reviewed. Such monitoring ensures that optimum use is made of Garda resources and the best possible service is provided to the public.
I am pleased that the Government has approved my proposal to increase the strength of the Garda to 14,000 members on a phased basis, in line with the commitment in An Agreed Programme for Government. The implementation of this key commitment will significantly strengthen the operational capacity of the force. The Garda Commissioner is drawing up plans on how best to distribute and manage the additional resources. The needs of the Louth-Meath division will be fully considered in the context of the needs of Garda divisions throughout the country when probationer gardaí are being allocated. Members of the Garda will be permanently transferred to that division, where possible.
It is clear that the additional resources will be targeted at areas of greatest need, as envisaged in the programme for Government, which identifies such areas as those with a significant drugs problem and a large number of public order offences. It will also be possible to address other priorities, such as the need to increase significantly the number of gardaí allocated to traffic duties as part of the proposed Garda traffic corps. I have promised that the additional gardaí will not be given administrative duties but will instead be put directly into frontline, operational and high visibility policing. They will have a real impact.
Question No. 47 answered with QuestionNo. 33.