Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 December 2004
220 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of fully trained and qualified gardaí as of 31 December 2002; the number of fully trained and qualified gardaí as of 31 December 2003; the number of fully trained and qualified gardaí as of 15 December 2004; the number of fully trained and qualified gardaí as of 31 December 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33834/04]
View answerI have been informed by Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of the Garda Síochána as of today, 15 December 2004 is 12,223, all ranks. I am further informed that the personnel strength of the force as of 31 December for the years 2002 and 2003 was 11,895 and 12,017, respectively.
In relation to Garda personnel strength, I should like to point out that Garda trainees are attested to the force on successful completion of phase three of their training. On attestation, Garda trainees are serving members of the force. Formal graduation takes place following the completion of the fifth and final phase of training. Therefore the serving strength of the force at any given time includes those who have been attested following completion of phase three of their training but have not yet formally graduated. The number of persons in phases four and five of training as of 31 December for the years 2002 and 2003 was 521 and 570, respectively. The number of persons in phases four and five as of 15 December 2004 is 688.
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 resources. Clearly, however, 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 almost 1,100 new recruits. The advertisement campaign for this first group of 1,100 recruits was launched on Thursday, 25 November, 2004.
