Vol. 467 No. 2
146 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Justice the plans, if any, she has to recruit more gardaí in the coming years in view of the fact that the force is 700 less in strength than it was in the mid 1980s when it had a membership of 11,400 and in view of the BSE crisis requiring high levels of security in the border region. [13063/96]
The present Garda strength as of 17 June, 1996, is 10,730 members. In addition there are 442 students currently in training. Approximately 87 of these trainees are due to be attested to the force tomorrow. In making comparisons with personnel figures in the mid 1980s I should point out that prior to 1989 all Garda recruits were included in the overall strength figures. This means that the relevant comparisons are 11,400 in the mid 1980s and 11,172 in 1996. Since the introduction of the two year training programme for recruits in April 1989, only those members who have completed phase three of training have been included in the overall strength of the force.
The change in the strength of the force provides no basis for concluding less effective policing. It can be compensated for by more effective operational deployment, by greater civilianisation and by the introduction of better management tools such as the information technology plan costing £26 million which is about to be implemented. There are now approximately 680 civilian clerical staff within the Garda Síochána as compared with 420 in 1985.
I recruited 350 gardaí last year, and will recruit the same number this year and next. Retirements have been higher than normal in recent years for exceptional reasons such as the ending of the temporary extension from 57 to 60 of the retirement age and the added pensionability of unsocial hours payments. Current trends suggest that retirement levels this year will be lower than in recent years.
The current Garda recruitment competition covers the period 1994 to 1997. I expect to submit my proposals for Garda recruitment for the next three to four year period to Government later this year.
Finally, I should point out that the allocation of extra police to Border BSE duty is not unique in the sense that there has always been a need, from time to time, to concentrate resources to deal with one emergency situation or another. The manpower and resources allocated to the Garda Síochána take account of such needs.
147 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Justice the reason the gardaí have not taken action regarding a trailer which was removed but is now returned to the same location on a daily basis, in view of her reply to Parliamentary Question No. 197 of 14 May 1996. [13069/96]
The matter raised by the Deputy has been brought to the attention of the Garda authorities.
