I am informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of all ranks at Ballyfermot Garda station as at 31 December 1997 and 2005 was 72 and 80, respectively. This represents an increase of 8, or 11%, in the number of gardaí allocated to Ballyfermot Garda station during this period.
Local Garda management is aware of ongoing anti-social behaviour problems in this area. Local uniform and detective personnel patrol the area and are regularly supplemented by the divisional task force and traffic corps units as well as the district detective unit and public order unit.
I am also informed that a Garda from the community policing unit is assigned to the local business watch scheme and community gardaí perform regular foot patrols in this area as part of the district policing plan. A designated Garda has been assigned to cover a special beat in the area. A period of intensive patrolling, under Operation Assist, has been arranged between local Garda management and the operational support units and will involve the Garda mounted unit, the Garda dog unit and the Garda air support unit in conjunction with local uniform and detective personnel.
With regard to the number of gardaí available, I should also say that the timescale for achieving the target strength of 14,000 members of the Garda Síochána in line with the commitment in An Agreed Programme for Government remains as when I announced the Government approval in October 2004 for my proposals to achieve this objective. The phased increase in the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 will lead to a combined strength, of both attested gardaí and recruits in training, of 14,000 by the end of this year. As part of the accelerated recruitment campaign to facilitate this process, 1,125 Garda recruits were inducted to the Garda college during 2005. The college will induct 1,100 recruits this year and a further 1,100 in 2007, by way of intakes to the Garda college of approximately 275 recruits every quarter. This project is fully on target and will be achieved.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the first incremental increase of newly attested gardaí due to the programme of accelerated recruitment into the Garda Síochána will take place on 16 March 2006. Garda management states that during the allocation of the newly attested personnel, the needs of the Ballyfermot Garda station will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda stations throughout the country.