Jim O'Callaghan
Question:108. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the most recent figures for the number of appointed detectives in each Garda division, in tabular form. [18665/17]
View answerWednesday, 12 April 2017
Questions (108)
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.
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. Funding has also been provided for the recruitment of 300 Garda Reserves.
I am informed by the Commissioner, since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, that 839 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide. I am also informed 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, an increase of 500 from the end of 2016.
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 the organisation.
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. This investment will facilitate the provision of more effective policing services and I have no doubt that these new resources now coming on stream will benefit all areas of Garda activity.
I am informed by the Commissioner that the Detective strength in each Garda Division on 28 February 2017, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was as set out in the following table.
An Garda Síochána Detective Strengths 28 Feb 2017
|
Division |
Strength |
|
DMR SOUTH CENTRAL |
42 |
|
DMR SOUTHERN |
44 |
|
DMR NORTHERN |
38 |
|
DMR WEST |
48 |
|
DMR NORTH CENTRAL |
37 |
|
DMR EAST |
24 |
|
WICKLOW |
15 |
|
LOUTH |
27 |
|
MEATH |
16 |
|
WESTMEATH |
19 |
|
LEIX/OFFALY |
25 |
|
KILDARE |
23 |
|
WEXFORD |
21 |
|
WATERFORD |
28 |
|
KILKENNY/CARLOW |
20 |
|
TIPPERARY |
24 |
|
CORK CITY |
115 |
|
CORK NORTH |
14 |
|
CORK WEST |
17 |
|
KERRY |
27 |
|
LIMERICK |
53 |
|
CLARE |
36 |
|
GALWAY |
56 |
|
ROSCOMMON/LONGFORD |
16 |
|
MAYO |
16 |
|
SLIGO/LEITRIM |
20 |
|
DONEGAL |
32 |
|
CAVAN/MONAGHAN |
27 |
|
TOTAL: |
880 |