Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 November 2016
117. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide a breakdown in tabular form of dedicated community gardaí, by rank, in each station in County Louth for each of the years since 2011. [35640/16]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including Community Gardaí, among the various Garda Divisions and Districts and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. 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 30 September 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available, there were 740 Community Gardaí assigned to Garda Divisions throughout the country. The specific information requested by the Deputy is set out in the tables beneath.
Community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána. It provides a means of recognising that every community – both urban and rural – has its own concerns and expectations. In this regard I welcome the strong emphasis placed by the Commissioner's Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021 on further developing and supporting the community policing ethos of the organisation so that Gardaí spend more time in the community, gaining public confidence and trust and providing a greater sense of security. Proposed initiatives include the establishment of local Community Policing Teams (CPTs) headed by an Inspector and made up of Gardaí from across a range of areas to proactively work with the community to prevent and detect crime; and the establishment of Community Safety Fora in every District comprising local Gardaí, local communities and key stakeholders.
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, 683 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána, of whom 149 attested today Thursday, 17 November. I am informed that so far 23 of these probationer Garda have been assigned to the Louth Division. The attestation of these further 149 probationer Garda will bring the Garda strength to around the 13,000 mark by year end. It is expected that Community Policing and all other Garda activities, will undoubtedly benefit from these resources now coming on stream.
|
COMMUNITY GARDAÍ 31 DECEMBER 2011 |
||||
|
STATION |
INSP |
SERGEANT |
GARDA |
TOTAL |
|
Louth |
||||
|
Drogheda |
0 |
1 |
5 |
6 |
|
Dunleer |
0 |
0 |
4 |
4 |
|
Dundalk |
0 |
1 |
7 |
8 |
|
Clogherhead |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
|
Ardee |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Total |
0 |
2 |
19 |
21 |
|
COMMUNITY GARDAÍ 31 DECEMBER 2012 |
||||
|
STATION |
INSP |
SERGEANT |
GARDA |
TOTAL |
|
Louth |
||||
|
Drogheda |
0 |
1 |
5 |
6 |
|
Dunleer |
0 |
0 |
4 |
4 |
|
Dundalk |
0 |
1 |
7 |
8 |
|
Clogherhead |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Ardee |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Total |
0 |
2 |
18 |
20 |
|
COMMUNITY GARDAÍ 31 DECEMBER 2013 |
||||
|
STATION |
INSP |
SERGEANT |
GARDA |
TOTAL |
|
Louth |
||||
|
Drogheda |
0 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
|
Dunleer |
0 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
|
Dundalk |
0 |
1 |
5 |
6 |
|
Clogherhead |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Ardee |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Total |
0 |
2 |
14 |
16 |
|
COMMUNITY GARDAÍ 31 DECEMBER 2014 |
||||
|
STATION |
INSP |
SERGEANT |
GARDA |
TOTAL |
|
Louth |
||||
|
Drogheda |
0 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
|
Dunleer |
0 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
|
Dundalk |
0 |
1 |
5 |
6 |
|
Clogherhead |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Ardee |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Total |
0 |
2 |
14 |
16 |
|
COMMUNITY GARDAÍ 31 DECEMBER 2015 |
||||
|
STATION |
INSP |
SERGEANT |
GARDA |
TOTAL |
|
Louth |
||||
|
Drogheda |
0 |
1 |
5 |
6 |
|
Dunleer |
0 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
|
Dundalk |
0 |
1 |
5 |
6 |
|
Clogherhead |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Ardee |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Total |
0 |
2 |
14 |
16 |
|
COMMUNITY GARDAÍ 30 SEPTEMBER 2016 |
||||
|
STATION |
INSP |
SERGEANT |
GARDA |
TOTAL |
|
Louth |
||||
|
Drogheda |
0 |
1 |
5 |
6 |
|
Dunleer |
0 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
|
Dundalk |
0 |
1 |
6 |
7 |
|
Clogherhead |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Ardee |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total |
0 |
2 |
14 |
16 |
