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Garda Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 November 2016

Thursday, 24 November 2016

Questions (51)

Thomas Byrne

Question:

51. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda stations and the number of gardaí in each in County Meath on 31 October 2016. [36779/16]

View answer

Written answers

As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner 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. 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 am informed by the Garda Commissioner that 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 Garda Division. It is the responsibility of the Divisional Officer to allocate personnel within his/her Division.

I am further informed that the Garda strength of the Meath Division, on the 31 October 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 289. There are also 22 Garda Reserves and 27 civilians attached to the Division. When appropriate, the work of local Gardaí is supported by a number of Garda national units such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI), the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (formerly the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation) and the Garda National Drugs and Organise Crime Bureau.

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.

I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that since the reopening of the Garda College, 679 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide including 23 to the Meath Division.

The following table sets out the number of Garda stations and number of Garda assigned to the Meath Division on 31 October 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available.

MEATH DIVISION 31 OCTOBER 2016

County

Town

Number

ASHBOURNE

ASHBOURNE

47

DULEEK

5

DUNBOYNE

16

DUNSHAUGHLIN

17

LAYTOWN

20

TOTAL

105

KELLS

BAILE ÁTHA BUÍ

5

KELLS

37

OLDCASTLE

4

TOTAL

46

NAVAN

NAVAN

87

NOBBER

3

SLANE

4

TOTAL

94

TRIM

BALLIVOR

2

DUNBOYNE

1

ENFIELD

3

LONGWOOD

2

SUMMERHILL

2

TRIM

34

TOTAL

44

MEATH TOTAL

17 STATIONS

289

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