As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts, the various Garda national units and of course Garda Headquarters. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources.
I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of Community Gardaí attached to the R District and J District on 31 December 2012 and on 30 September 2013, the latest date for which figures are readily available, is set out in the following table:
Dec 2012
|
Garda
|
Sergeant
|
Total
|
District R
|
36
|
4
|
40
|
District J
|
15
|
1
|
16
|
Sept 2013
|
Garda
|
Sergeant
|
Total
|
District R
|
30
|
4
|
34
|
District J
|
12
|
1
|
13
|
The Deputy will be aware that all Gardaí have responsibility, inter alia, to deal with Community Policing issues as and when they arise.