Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 June 2006
202 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the strength of An Garda Síochána as of 1 June 2006; the strength of the force on 1 June 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22245/06]
View answerI have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength (all ranks) of An Garda Síochána as at 1 June 2002 and 2006 was 11,754 and 12,391, respectively. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the serving strength of the Force is to receive a significant additional boost with the attestation of approximately 275 new members today (8 June).
I should add that the current recruitment drive to increase the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 members, in line with the commitment in the Agreed Programme for Government, is fully on target. This will lead to a combined strength, of both attested Gardaí and recruits in training, of 14,000 by the end of this year. The first group of newly attested Gardaí under the accelerated recruitment programme came on stream in March and a further 275 newly attested Gardaí will do so every 90 days thereafter. The Garda Commissioner will now be drawing up plans on how best to distribute and manage these significant additional resources.
