I propose to take Questions Nos. 421 and 423 together.
There is no specific budget allocated in the 2005 Garda Vote to the newly created traffic corps. While the traffic corps has been established, it is still in the process of formation and all associated expenditure is currently being met from within the overall 2005 Garda Vote.
The budget allocated for road traffic equipment for traffic units in 2004 was €1,074,000. Of course, the main costs incurred by the traffic units in terms of salaries and vehicles were accounted for centrally within the Garda Vote. In this regard, I have obtained an increase of 21% or almost €200 million in the Garda Vote since I was appointed Minister — from €942 million in 2002 to €1.13 billion for 2005.
As the Deputy is aware, I announced the establishment within the Garda Síochána of the traffic corps on 23 November 2004. The Deputy will also be aware 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 the commitment in the agreed programme for Government. As each cycle of recruit training is completed, the Garda Commissioner will assign these new members to the areas of greatest need with particular regard to certain priorities, which include the traffic corps.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the number of gardaí assigned to the traffic corps will increase from the current approved level of approximately 530 to 1,200 by 2008. The assignment of gardaí to the traffic corps will be done on the following phased basis in tandem with the recruitment of almost 1,100 recruits in each of the next three years: 2005 — 563, 2006 — 805, 2007 — 1,030 and 2008 — 1,200.