I have been informed by Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the levels of patrolling are continuously monitored on a regional basis in order to ensure that an effective policing service is maintained throughout the year and that appropriate steps are taken to address the policing demands of the public at large. I am further informed that the personnel strength of the Garda Síochána, all ranks, as on 13 December 2004 is 12,225.
In relation to Garda resources generally, I am, of course, very pleased that the Government has approved my proposal to increase the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 members on a phased basis, in line with An Agreed Programme for Government commitment in this regard. This is a key commitment in the programme for Government, and its implementation will significantly strengthen the operational capacity of the force.
The Commissioner will now be drawing up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources. Clearly, of course, the additional resources will be targeted at the areas of greatest need, as is envisaged in the programme for Government. The programme identifies, in particular, areas with a significant drugs problem and a large number of public order offences, but it will be possible to address other priorities as well, such as the need to very significantly increase the number of gardaí allocated to traffic duties as part of the new Garda traffic corps. One thing I have already promised is that the additional gardaí will not be put on administrative duties. They will be put directly into front-line, operational, high-visibility policing. They will have a real impact.
In each of the next three years there will be an intake of approximately 1,100 new recruits. The advertisement campaign for this first trench of 1,100 recruits was launched on Thursday, 25 November 2004.