Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 June 2016
49. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if additional Garda Síochána personnel will be assigned to the Cavan-Monaghan Garda division, given the substantial reduction in Garda numbers in that division over the past number of years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16418/16]
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.
I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that as of the 30 April 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available, there were 314 members and 18 Garda Reserves assigned to the Cavan/Monaghan Division. A detailed breakdown of these members is in the table. All Divisional resources are further augmented by a number of Garda National Units such as the Garda National Drugs Unit (GNDU), the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) and other specialised units.
As the Deputy will be aware, when the financial crisis hit, the Government of the time introduced a moratorium on recruitment and the four year National Recovery Plan, published in 2010, envisaged a steady reduction in Garda numbers. Thankfully, in a recovering economy, we were able to reopen the Garda College in September 2014, and 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 463 of the new Garda trainees have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream uniform duties nationwide. Another 76 will attest on the 7 July with 150 more to attest in November. I am assured by the Commissioner that the needs of all Garda Divisions are fully considered when determining the allocation of newly attested Gardaí and 11 newly attested Gardaí have been assigned to the Cavan/Monaghan Garda Division to date.
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. Taking account of projected retirements, the current rate of recruitment will bring Garda numbers to around the 13,000 mark this year. 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.
CAVAN/MONAGHAN Garda Division 30 April 2016
|
District |
Station |
GD |
SG |
IN |
SU |
CS |
AC |
Total |
|
BAILIEBORO |
29 |
8 |
1 |
38 |
||||
|
BALLYJAMESDUFF |
3 |
1 |
4 |
|||||
|
COOTEHILL |
6 |
6 |
||||||
|
KINGSCOURT |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|||||
|
MULLAGH |
1 |
1 |
||||||
|
SHERCOCK |
1 |
1 |
||||||
|
VIRGINIA |
9 |
1 |
10 |
|||||
|
BAILIEBORO |
TOTAL |
50 |
11 |
1 |
62 |
|||
|
BALLYBAY |
3 |
1 |
4 |
|||||
|
CARRICKMACROSS |
30 |
9 |
1 |
1 |
41 |
|||
|
CASTLEBLANEY |
23 |
5 |
28 |
|||||
|
ROCKCORRY |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|||||
|
CARRICKMACROSS |
TOTAL |
57 |
16 |
1 |
1 |
75 |
||
|
ARVA |
2 |
1 |
3 |
|||||
|
BALLINAGH |
1 |
1 |
||||||
|
BALLYCONNELL |
14 |
2 |
16 |
|||||
|
BELTURBET |
5 |
1 |
6 |
|||||
|
BLACKLION |
2 |
1 |
3 |
|||||
|
CAVAN |
52 |
6 |
1 |
1 |
60 |
|||
|
DOWRA |
1 |
1 |
||||||
|
KILLESHANDRA |
1 |
1 |
||||||
|
KILNALECK |
2 |
1 |
3 |
|||||
|
SWANLINBAR |
1 |
1 |
||||||
|
CAVAN |
TOTAL |
81 |
12 |
1 |
1 |
95 |
||
|
CLONES |
3 |
1 |
4 |
|||||
|
EMYVALE |
2 |
1 |
3 |
|||||
|
MONAGHAN |
56 |
13 |
2 |
2 |
73 |
|||
|
SCOTSTOWN |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|||||
|
MONAGHAN |
TOTAL |
62 |
16 |
2 |
2 |
82 |
||
|
DIVISIONAL TOTAL |
250 |
55 |
4 |
5 |
314 |
