Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 June 2016
120. Deputy Josepha Madigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if 68 members of An Garda Síochána are attached to Dundrum Garda station; if 11 are on temporary transfer; if this is a decrease from 86 in February 2016 and 139 in 2009; and when she will review and increase Garda numbers in Dundrum, County Dublin. [14035/16]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that the allocation of Gardaí is continually monitored and reviewed taking into account all relevant factors including crime trends, demographics, and security assessments relating to the area in question so as to ensure optimal use is made of Garda human resources.
Dundrum Garda station forms part of the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) East. I have been informed that the number of Gardaí assigned to the Dundrum Garda Station on the 31 March 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 81. The corresponding figure in February was 85 and on the 31 December 2009 there were 80 members assigned to Dundrum.
This Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime. Key to achieving this goal is the commitment in the Programme for Government, "A Programme for a Partnership Government" to continue the ongoing accelerated Garda recruitment programme with a view to increasing Garda numbers to 15,000.
As the Deputy will be aware, since the Garda College reopened in September 2014, a total of 700 Garda trainees have been recruited with a further 450 planned to be recruited during the remainder of this year. So far 395 of the new Garda trainees have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream uniform duties nationwide. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that 10 newly attested Gardaí have been assigned to the DMR East Garda Division.
It is expected that a further 300 trainees will attest by the end of this year which, taking account of projected retirements, will bring Garda numbers to around the 13,000 mark. We must, I believe, endeavour to make more rapid progress than this to reach our target of 15,000 and I am engaging with my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, in relation to increasing the planned annual intake this year and in coming years.
