Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 July 2006
556 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if additional resources will be allocated to the Community Garda Section in response to the increased levels of vandalism, malicious damage and anti-social activities in the environs of an area (details supplied) in Dublin 7. [25639/06]
View answerI have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of An Garda Síochána increased to a record 12,641 (all ranks) on Thursday 8 June with the attestation of 273 new members. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June 1997 and represents an increase of 1,939 (or 18.1%) in the personnel strength of the Force during that period.
I have been further informed by the Garda authorities that the personnel strength of Mountjoy Garda Station as at 30 June, 2006 was 86 (all ranks) and that nine Gardaí and one Sergeant are currently allocated to Community Policing duties there. One Community Garda has been specifically assigned to the area to which the Deputy refers.
In the year to date in respect of this location there have been six recorded complaints of anti-social behaviour (youths loitering, stone and egg throwing, and youths riding scrambler bikes). In the same period, in the general area of this location, there have been fifteen incidents of criminal damage, four of which have been detected and persons made amenable.
Local Garda Management intends to initiate a number of once-off operations to tackle the issues highlighted at this location and in the general surrounding area. Similar operations were successfully undertaken in 2004 and 2005. A number of meetings have been held with Irish Rail and Dublin City Council with a view to raising the height of the railings at the area referred to and efforts are also being made to reactivate the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme in the locality.
Local Garda Management are satisfied that resources currently allocated to Community Policing in Mountjoy Garda Station are adequate. The location will continue to receive attention from regular mobile and foot patrols. The situation will be kept under review and when additional personnel next become available the needs of the Dublin Metropolitan Region North Central Division will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda Divisions throughout the country.
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 this accelerated recruitment programme came on stream in March and the second such group did so on the 8th of June. Further tranches of approximately 275 newly attested Gardaí will follow every 90 days thereafter until the programme is complete. The Garda Commissioner will now be drawing up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources.
