Skip to main content
Normal View

Garda Deployment

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 July 2016

Wednesday, 20 July 2016

Questions (78, 79)

John Curran

Question:

78. Deputy John Curran asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí currently stationed at Clondalkin, Rowlagh and Lucan Garda stations. [22978/16]

View answer

John Curran

Question:

79. Deputy John Curran asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new Garda recruits assigned to Clondalkin, Rowlagh and Lucan Garda stations in the years 2015 to 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22979/16]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 79 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and Districts. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources.

I have been informed that as of the 31 May 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available, there were 676 Gardaí assigned to the Dublin Metropolitan Region West (D.M.R. West) of which there were 88 assigned to Clondalkin, 92 Gardaí assigned to Ronanstown (Rowlagh) and 74 Gardaí assigned to Lucan Garda Stations.

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 350 planned to be recruited during the remainder of this year. So far 534 of the new Garda trainees have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream uniform duties nationwide with another 150 more planned to attest in November. Of the newly attested members, 50 have been assigned to the DMR West Garda Division.

The Programme for Government, "A Programme for a Partnership Government" commits to continuing 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 in coming years.

In accelerating recruitment it is, of course, essential to ensure that An Garda Síochána has the capacity to train larger numbers without any diminution in the quality of its training programme, and to provide appropriate supervision and support to newly qualified Gardaí to ensure that victims, and the public generally, are well served by their policing service. My officials are also engaging with Garda management as a matter of priority in relation to the preparation of a recruitment plan for the next five years that will deliver increased numbers of Gardaí without any compromise on the quality of those recruited or the training programme.

Top
Share