Jim O'Callaghan
Question:110. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the most recent figures for the number of community gardaí in each Garda division in tabular form. [38162/16]
View answerThursday, 1 December 2016
Questions (110)
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.
For the Deputy's information I have set out below in tabular form the allocation of Community Gardaí by Division as of 31 October 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available from the Garda Commissioner.
The Commissioner has advised that it is the case that all Gardaí have a role to play in addressing community policing issues as and when the need arises. In that sense, community policing involves far more than a single unit within An Garda Síochána. 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.
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. It is expected that Community Policing and all other Garda activities, will undoubtedly benefit from these resources now coming on stream.
Community Gardaí 31 Oct 2016
|
DIVISION |
TOTAL |
|
DMR South Central |
33 |
|
DMR North Central |
107 |
|
DMR NORTH |
53 |
|
DMR EAST |
30 |
|
DMR SOUTH |
38 |
|
DMR WEST |
56 |
|
Waterford |
42 |
|
Wexford |
8 |
|
Tipperary |
71 |
|
Kilkenny/Carlow |
88 |
|
Cork City |
26 |
|
Cork North |
8 |
|
Cork West |
6 |
|
Kerry |
7 |
|
Limerick |
43 |
|
Donegal |
21 |
|
Cavan/Monaghan |
4 |
|
Sligo/Leitrim |
8 |
|
Louth |
14 |
|
Clare |
6 |
|
Mayo |
3 |
|
Galway |
15 |
|
Roscommon/Longford |
8 |
|
Westmeath |
9 |
|
Meath |
10 |
|
Kildare |
0 |
|
Laois/Offaly |
9 |
|
Wicklow |
15 |
|
Total |
738 |