Vol. 491 No. 2
159 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to increase the number of community Garda in view of the important work they are doing in communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11627/98]
: The detailed deployment of Garda personnel to individual areas is a matter for the Garda authorities. They have informed me that neighbourhood gardaí are currently deployed in many urban centres. Such deployment is generally in response to a perceived need for this type of policing service in individual areas or following a request from the public for such a service in their area and is at the discretion of the Garda authorities depending on the level of resources available for allocation at any given time. In recent years there has been growing public recognition of the value of neighbourhood policing with a consequent growth in the numbers of gardaí assigned to such duties.
While figures are not readily available for the number of gardaí engaged in community policing duties countrywide, I understand from the Garda authorities that in the Dublin Metropolitan Area alone there are approximately 450 gardaí currently engaged in community policing. This figure comprises a core number of 223 neighbourhood gardaí plus 227 gardaí engaged in community policing duties relating to Operation Dóchas. I am assured by the Garda authorities that the deployment of community/neighbourhood gardaí is a matter which is kept under continuous review.
