Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 October 2015
124. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps she will take to reverse recent reductions in Garda Síochána numbers in counties Laois and Offaly; and to increase the numbers involved in front-line policing. [35773/15]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of resources.
I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that, as of the 31 August 2015 the latest date for which figures are readily available, 277 members of An Garda Síochána are assigned to the Laois/Offaly Garda Division. The work of these Gardaí is supported by 26 Garda Reserve members and 21 civilian staff. The work of local Gardaí in the Laois/Offaly Division is augmented when necessary by a number of Garda national units such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI), the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) and the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB). Organised criminal activity is currently being targeted by An Garda Síochána across a number of fronts, including the use of focused intelligence-led operations by specialist units such as the Drugs and Organised Crime Unit and CAB.
This Government is committed to the ongoing recruitment of trainee Gardaí, and to this end the first intake since 2009 of new recruits commenced training at the Garda College, Templemore, in September of last year. To date there has been four intakes of Garda Trainees to the Garda College, giving a total intake of 400. A further 150 recruits will enter the college by year end, bringing total recruitment of Garda Trainees to 550. So far 295 of the new Garda Trainees have attested as members of An Garda Síochána. On attestation, new Probationer Gardaí are assigned to Garda stations throughout the country by the Garda Commissioner, where they are deployed to mainstream policing duties. I am assured by Garda management that the needs of all Garda Divisions are fully considered, including the Laois/Offaly Division, when determining the allocation of newly attested Gardaí.
The ongoing recruitment of new Gardaí is crucial for An Garda Síochána and for the safety of communities throughout Ireland and I am pleased that the budget allocation for 2016 will allow for the further recruitment of 600 new Gardaí in 2016.
