Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 11 Apr 2001

Vol. 534 No. 4

Written Answers - Garda Strength.

Desmond J. O'Malley

Ceist:

212 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason the number of gardaí in the Limerick division has decreased by 100 between 1985 and 2001; the further reason the biggest decrease in any division in the country was in the Limerick division; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are very serious crime problems in Limerick; and if he will make a statement explaining the position and setting out the increase in Garda manpower which he proposes to allocate to the Limerick division. [10980/01]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

I am informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of personnel and resources to individual areas, that while manpower strength at Limerick is lower today than in 1985 there has been a gradual increase since 1998.

The manpower strength of the Limerick division as at 1 January for the years 1998 to 2001, inclusive, is as follows:

Year	Strength
1998	423
1999	427
2000	430
2001	435

Since 1 January 2001 a further 11 Garda personnel have been allocated to the Limerick division, bringing the total strength to 446 as of 9 April 2001.

These figures represent an increase in the strength at Limerick division of 5.2% between 1 January 1998 and 9 April 2001.

The manpower strength of all ranks at Limerick division as at 1 January 1985 was 541. In this regard, it should be noted that protection duty, which was performed at Limerick Prison until February 1995, required an allocation of 42 Garda personnel. Furthermore, protection duty was also carried out in the Newcastlewest district in relation to the then Minister for Justice and this required an allocation of 6 Garda personnel. This duty ceased in June 1992.

I have been assured by the Garda authorities that the situation will be kept under review and when additional manpower next becomes available the needs of Limerick will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda districts throughout the country.