The Garda authorities are responsible for the detailed deployment of Garda personnel resources to individual areas and they have provided me with the information sought by the Deputy on a divisional basis, as at 31 December 1997, as set out in the following table. I understand that, in determining the level of resources required by each Garda division and district they take into consideration a number of factors which would affect the level of personnel required in each area. These include crime trends, population and demographic change etc.
The Garda authorities have informed me that when the overall strength of the Garda Síochána on 31 December 1997 is compared to the strength of the Force on 31 December 1996 it represents an increase of 1.4 per cent.
Deployment of An Garda Síochána on 31/12/1997