Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 February 2017
56. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the current number of gardaí in the Mayo division; the plans in place to increase this number during 2017; and if there are any plans to purchase new Garda vehicles for County Mayo in 2017 and to recruit gardaí for County Mayo in 2017. [7633/17]
View answerAs 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 by the Garda Commissioner that the Garda strength of the Mayo Division, on the 31 December 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available was 300. There are also 23 Garda Reserves and 34 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 and the Garda National Drugs and the Organised 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.
Since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, 838 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide, including 3 to the Mayo Division. I am also informed by the Commissioner that another 750 trainee Garda are scheduled to attest this year which will see Garda numbers, taking account of projected retirements, increase to around the 13,500 mark by year end.
This focus on investment in personnel is critical. The moratorium on recruitment introduced in 2010 resulted in a significant reduction in the strength of An Garda Síochána. We are now rebuilding the organisation and providing the Commissioner with the resources she needs to allow her to deploy increasing numbers of Gardaí across every Garda Division, including Mayo, in the coming years.
This investment in personnel 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.
I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that over 520 new vehicles were purchased and allocated for use in 2016. In addition, some 200 vehicles were purchased for allocation and use in 2017. This will be supplemented by funding of some €4 million which is available for new vehicles in 2017. The investment in the Garda fleet will continue to provide An Garda Síochána with additional high-powered vehicles, marked and unmarked patrol cars, and motorcycles to ensure that Gardaí can be mobile, visible and responsive on the roads and in the community to prevent and tackle crime.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that the needs of all Garda Divisions including Mayo are considered when allocation vehicles across the Divisions. The strength of the Garda Fleet in the Mayo Division as of the 6 December 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available, is set out in the following table.
Strength of Garda Fleet in Mayo, as at 06 December 2016
|
CARS |
VANS |
MOTORCYCLES |
4X4 |
OTHER |
TOTAL |
|
|
Marked |
Unmarked |
|||||
|
24 |
17 |
13 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
59 |
