In relation to Garda resources generally, I am very pleased to say that the Government has approved my proposal to increase the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 members on a phased basis, in line with An Agreed Programme for Government commitment in this regard. This is a key commitment in the programme for Government, and its implementation will significantly strengthen the operational capacity of the force. The Commissioner will now draw up plans on how best to distribute and manage these resources. Clearly, however, the additional resources will be targeted at the areas of greatest need, as is envisaged in the programme for Government. The programme identifies in particular areas with a significant drugs problem and a large number of public order offences, but it will be possible to address other priorities as well, such as the need to significantly increase the number of gardaí allocated to traffic duties. One thing I have already promised is that the additional gardaí will not be put on administrative duties. They will be put directly into frontline, operational, high-visibility policing. They will have a real impact.
As regards resources in the Dublin metropolitan area, I have been informed by the Garda authorities who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the number of personnel, all ranks, assigned to each Garda station as at the 31 December each year from 1997 to 2003 is as set out in the table following.
In this regard I should like to mention that the personnel resources in the Dublin metropolitan area as of 8 November 2004 is approximately 230 greater than the comparable number in 1997. Furthermore, there has also been a considerable increase since 1997 in the number of gardaí serving in national units which are available to all the stations in the Dublin metropolitan area.
|
1997
|
1998
|
1999
|
2000
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
Pearse St.
|
231
|
215
|
215
|
221
|
216
|
214
|
238
|
Harcourt Terrace
|
91
|
93
|
84
|
84
|
80
|
79
|
74
|
Kevin Street
|
124
|
122
|
113
|
116
|
117
|
117
|
117
|
Kilmainham
|
75
|
87
|
101
|
97
|
76
|
76
|
73
|
Donnybrook
|
126
|
129
|
126
|
120
|
116
|
114
|
123
|
Irishtown
|
60
|
59
|
57
|
59
|
54
|
49
|
55
|
Crumlin
|
82
|
85
|
83
|
84
|
86
|
88
|
83
|
Sundrive Rd.
|
54
|
57
|
52
|
56
|
58
|
57
|
60
|
Rathfarnham
|
63
|
57
|
63
|
63
|
67
|
74
|
71
|
Tallaght
|
133
|
139
|
142
|
159
|
159
|
159
|
165
|
Rathmines
|
90
|
90
|
76
|
79
|
81
|
67
|
72
|
Terenure
|
49
|
46
|
60
|
67
|
66
|
84
|
86
|
Santry
|
93
|
87
|
78
|
77
|
83
|
91
|
105
|
Whitehall
|
45
|
42
|
38
|
43
|
40
|
40
|
40
|
Ballymun
|
57
|
57
|
56
|
63
|
64
|
64
|
63
|
Dublin Airport
|
50
|
48
|
56
|
57
|
58
|
19
|
23
|
Coolock
|
93
|
89
|
93
|
89
|
85
|
84
|
87
|
Malahide
|
43
|
39
|
39
|
44
|
43
|
43
|
40
|
Swords
|
45
|
44
|
49
|
52
|
54
|
57
|
56
|
Raheny
|
64
|
59
|
61
|
63
|
61
|
64
|
60
|
Clontarf
|
57
|
59
|
56
|
56
|
60
|
64
|
62
|
Howth
|
30
|
34
|
35
|
37
|
39
|
41
|
42
|
Blanchardstown
|
89
|
94
|
104
|
106
|
124
|
132
|
140
|
Cabra
|
82
|
76
|
80
|
83
|
76
|
76
|
66
|
Finglas
|
76
|
83
|
90
|
88
|
78
|
78
|
70
|
Lucan
|
58
|
61
|
57
|
67
|
75
|
73
|
65
|
Leixlip
|
11
|
16
|
19
|
21
|
18
|
24
|
26
|
Ballyfermot
|
72
|
71
|
66
|
77
|
75
|
73
|
77
|
Clondalkin
|
56
|
51
|
62
|
63
|
66
|
82
|
81
|
Ronanstown
|
58
|
65
|
63
|
65
|
66
|
72
|
79
|
Rathcoole
|
*
|
17
|
19
|
19
|
23
|
21
|
23
|
Store St.
|
231
|
227
|
234
|
233
|
228
|
225
|
260
|
Fines Office
|
9
|
8
|
8
|
8
|
7
|
8
|
8
|
Fitzgibbon St.
|
120
|
118
|
114
|
113
|
112
|
116
|
119
|
Mountjoy
|
78
|
84
|
80
|
75
|
77
|
82
|
86
|
Bridewell
|
156
|
157
|
167
|
167
|
155
|
157
|
164
|
Dún Laoghaire
|
109
|
110
|
104
|
107
|
109
|
106
|
90
|
Dalkey
|
27
|
23
|
23
|
23
|
23
|
29
|
28
|
Kill-O-Grange
|
35
|
35
|
38
|
36
|
33
|
36
|
37
|
Cabinteely
|
42
|
42
|
46
|
49
|
41
|
39
|
40
|
Bray
|
76
|
74
|
76
|
77
|
77
|
79
|
75
|
Enniskerry
|
6
|
7
|
7
|
6
|
6
|
5
|
5
|
Shankhill
|
50
|
48
|
53
|
53
|
48
|
53
|
55
|
Greystones
|
28
|
28
|
28
|
28
|
26
|
28
|
29
|
Blackrock
|
71
|
75
|
75
|
75
|
74
|
66
|
66
|
Dundrum
|
62
|
57
|
51
|
53
|
62
|
69
|
65
|
Stepaside
|
40
|
40
|
42
|
42
|
37
|
36
|
32
|
*In 1997 Rathcoole formed part of the Carlow-Kildare Division.
I am further informed that the number of personnel assigned to each Garda station in the Dublin metropolitan region and the number assigned to community policing and administrative duties as at 8 November 2004 was as set out as follows.
|
Number Assigned
|
Community Policing
|
Administrative Duties
|
Pearse St.
|
244
|
15
|
5
|
Harcourt Terrace
|
77
|
2
|
0
|
Kevin Street
|
114
|
9
|
4
|
Kilmainham
|
76
|
7
|
0
|
Donnybrook
|
122
|
5
|
3
|
Irishtown
|
55
|
3
|
0
|
Crumlin
|
86
|
5
|
3
|
Sundrive Rd.
|
63
|
4
|
0
|
Rathfarnham
|
72
|
5
|
0
|
Tallaght
|
169
|
24
|
1
|
Rathmines
|
69
|
3
|
0
|
Terenure
|
87
|
7
|
1
|
Santry
|
102
|
3
|
3
|
Whitehall
|
32
|
3
|
0
|
Ballymun
|
64
|
8
|
0
|
Dublin Airport
|
23
|
0
|
0
|
Coolock
|
81
|
6
|
1
|
Malahide
|
43
|
3
|
0
|
Swords
|
67
|
8
|
0
|
Raheny
|
64
|
5
|
1
|
Clontarf
|
64
|
6
|
0
|
Howth
|
43
|
4
|
0
|
Blanchardstown
|
143
|
17
|
2
|
Cabra
|
64
|
2
|
0
|
Finglas
|
73
|
13
|
0
|
Lucan
|
70
|
5
|
1
|
Leixlip
|
27
|
4
|
0
|
Ballyfermot
|
75
|
9
|
0
|
Clondalkin
|
79
|
11
|
1
|
Ronanstown
|
82
|
11
|
0
|
Rathcoole
|
28
|
1
|
0
|
Store St.
|
260
|
21
|
2
|
Fines Office
|
8
|
0
|
0
|
Fitzgibbon St.
|
117
|
15
|
0
|
Mountjoy
|
87
|
13
|
2
|
Bridewell
|
162
|
15
|
9
|
Dún Laoghaire
|
102
|
5
|
3
|
Dalkey
|
26
|
3
|
0
|
Kill-O-Grange
|
34
|
4
|
0
|
Cabinteely
|
38
|
5
|
0
|
Bray
|
81
|
6
|
1
|
Enniskerry
|
5
|
0
|
0
|
Shankhill
|
59
|
4
|
0
|
Greystones
|
28
|
3
|
0
|
Blackrock
|
67
|
6
|
1
|
Dundrum
|
65
|
6
|
0
|
Stepaside
|
28
|
1
|
0
|
It is not clear specifically what specialist policing duties the Deputy is referring to. The figures for personnel allocated to administrative duties is based on those personnel who are in receipt of designated post and ex gratia allowances and as such employed on a full-time basis in Garda stations in the Dublin metropolitan area.