Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 June 2016
67. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the details of Garda Síochána numbers in Ballymun and Santry stations by year for each of the years 2010 to 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18350/16]
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 taking into account crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources. In regard to the deployment of Garda personnel, a distribution model is used which takes into account all relevant factors including population, crime trends and the policing needs of each individual Division. It is the responsibility of the Divisional Officer to allocate personnel within his/her Division as appropriate.
I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the Garda strength of Ballymun and Santry Garda Stations, which form part of the Dublin Metropolitan North (DMR North) Division, in the years 31 December 2010 to 2015 and up to the 30 April 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was as set out in the table.
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 851 Garda trainees have been recruited with a further 300 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 that so far this year 35 newly attested Gardaí have been assigned to DMR North.
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
Garda Strength of Ballymun and Santry Garda Stations 2010 - 2016
|
Station |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016* |
|
Ballymun |
128 |
113 |
118 |
118 |
114 |
124 |
121 |
|
Santry |
82 |
81 |
102 |
95 |
90 |
82 |
82 |
* to 30 April, 2016
