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Garda Deployment

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 November 2016

Tuesday, 15 November 2016

Questions (83)

Anne Rabbitte

Question:

83. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda stations and the number of gardaí in each in County Galway on 31 October 2010 and on 31 October 2016; the proportion of the proposed 800 additional recruits in 2017 that are likely to be assigned to County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34726/16]

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Written answers

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. To make this a reality for all, the Government has in place a plan to achieve an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Reserve members and 4,000 civilians. In 2017, funding has been provided for the recruitment of 800 Garda recruits and up to 500 civilians to support the wide ranging reform plan in train in An Garda Síochána. Appointments will also be made to the Garda Reserve of approximately 300.

Taking account of projected retirements, reaching a strength of 15,000 will require some 3,200 new Garda members to be recruited on a phased basis over the next four years in addition to the 1,200 that will have been recruited by the end of this year since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014. This is an ambitious target and will require a continuous pipeline of suitable candidates. I am pleased to say that the recruitment campaign launched by the Public Appointments Service on behalf of the Commissioner last September, the second campaign this year, again received a strong response.

Since the reopening of the Garda College, 534 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide. I am informed that of these, 5 have been assigned to the Galway Division. Another 150 trainee Garda will attest this Thursday, 17 November which will bring Garda numbers to around the 13,000 mark by year end.

In so far as the allocation of newly attest Gardaí next year is concerned, this is a matter for the Garda Commissioner and I, as Minister has no direct role in it. I am assured by the Commissioner that the needs of all Garda Divisions are fully considered when determining the allocation of resources. However, it is important to keep in mind that newly attested Gardaí have a further 16 months of practical and classroom based training to complete in order to receive their BA in Applied Policing. To ensure that they are properly supported and supervised and have opportunities to gain the breadth of policing experience required, the Commissioner's policy is to allocate them to specially designated training stations which have the required structures and resources in place, including Garda tutors.

The Government's plan for an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 is complemented by substantial investment in resources across the board for An Garda Síochána. The Deputy will be aware of the significant resources that have been made available to An Garda Síochána under the Government's Capital Plan 2016 - 2021. In particular, some €205 million in additional funding for Garda ICT and €46 million for new Garda vehicles has been allocated over the lifetime of the plan. This investment will facilitate the provision of more effective policing services and I expect that the Galway Division, like all other Garda Divisions will benefit from these new resources becoming available.

For ease of reference I have provided a breakdown of the detailed information requested in relation to the number of Garda stations and number of Garda assigned to the Galway Division on 31 October 2010 and 30 September 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available, for the record.

GALWAY DIVISION 31 OCT 2010

Division

Stations

Garda Numbers

BALLINASLOE

AHASCRAGH

1

BALLINASLOE

46

BALLYGAR

3

CREGGS

1

KILCONNELL

1

KILTORMER

0

MENLOUGH

1

MOUNT BELLEW

10

MOYLOUGH

1

TOTAL

64

CLIFDEN

CARNA

2

CLIFDEN

30

LENNAUN

1

LETTERFRACK

1

MAAM

2

RECESS

1

ROUNDSTONE

1

TOTAL

38

GALWAY

ATHENRY

5

CARN DOLLA

1

GALWAY

216

KILTULLAGH

0

LOUGH GEORGE

1

MONIVEA

1

ORANMORE

35

TOTAL

259

GORT

ARDRAHAN

1

CRAUGHWELL

6

GORT

29

KILCHREEST

0

KILCOLGAN

1

KINVARA

2

SHANAGLISH

1

TOTAL

40

LOUGHREA

EYRECOURT

1

KILLIMOR

0

KILRICKLE

1

LOUGHREA

39

NEW INN

1

PORTUMNA

10

TYNAGH

1

WOODFORD

1

TOTAL

54

SALTHILL

CARRAROE

4

CILL RONAIN

3

INVERIN

1

LEITIR MOR

1

MOYCULLEN

3

ROS MUC

1

SALTHILL

58

SPIDDLE

3

UACHTARARD

6

TOTAL

80

TUAM

BALLYMOE

1

BARNADERG

0

COROFIN

1

DUNMORE

6

GLENAMADDY

1

HEADFORD

5

KILCONLY

1

MILLTOWN

1

TUAM

56

WILLIAMSTOWN

1

TOTAL

73

GALWAY

57 Stations

608

GALWAY DIVISION 30 SEP 2016

Division

Stations

Garda Numbers

BALLINASLOE

AHASCRAGH

1

BALLINASLOE

42

BALLYGAR

1

CREGGS

1

KILCONNELL

1

MOUNT BELLEW

7

MOYLOUGH

1

TOTAL

54

CLIFDEN

AN MÁM

3

CARNA

2

CLIFDEN

27

CLOCH NA RÓN

1

LETTERFRACK

1

SRAITH SALACH

1

TOTAL

35

GALWAY

ATHENRY

5

GAILLIMH

213

LOUGH GEORGE

1

MONIVEA

1

ÓRÁN MÓR

42

TOTAL

262

LOUGHREA

CRAUGHWELL

4

EYRECOURT

1

GORT

27

KILLIMOR

1

KILRICKLE

1

KINVARA

2

LOUGHREA

33

PORTUMNA

7

WOODFORD

1

TOTAL

77

SALTHILL

AN CHEATHRÚ RUA

5

AN SPIDÉAL

2

CILL RÓNÁIN

4

INDREABHÁN

1

LEITIR MÓIR

1

MAIGH CUILINN

1

ROS MUC

1

SALTHILL

54

UACHTARARD

3

TOTAL

72

TUAM

BARNADERG

1

DUNMORE

6

GLENAMADDY

1

HEADFORD

2

TUAM

54

WILLIAMSTOWN

1

TOTAL

65

GALWAY

42 Stations

565

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