Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2017
593. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the manning levels as of 1 September 2017 in all Garda stations in counties Kildare, Laois and Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37385/17]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who 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 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. Furthermore when allocations are taking place comprehensive consultation is carried out with local management during which all factors are taken into consideration. Where a deficiency in resources is identified the matter is considered fully and addressed accordingly. It is the responsibility of the Divisional Officer to allocate personnel within his/her Division.
I have been informed that the number of Gardaí assigned to the Kildare Division on the 31 July 2017, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 342 with 20 Garda Reserves and 30 civilians. The number of Gardaí assigned to the Laois/Offaly Division was was 323 with 17 Garda Reserves and 24 civilians. When appropriate, the work of local Gardaí is supported by a number of Garda national units such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau and the Garda National Drugs and 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. Funding has also been provided for the recruitment of 300 Garda Reserves.
This plan is progressing apace. I am informed by the Commissioner, that since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, almost 1,200 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána, 60 of whom have been assigned to the Kildare Division, and 56 has been assigned to the Laois/Offaly Division. I am also informed that a further 400 Garda recruits are scheduled to attest later 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 since 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 needed to allow the deployment of increasing numbers of Gardaí across every Garda Division, including the Kildare Division and the Laois/Offaly Division in the coming years.
I am informed by the Commissioner that the strength of the Kildare Division and the Laois / Offaly Division on 31 July 2017, the latest date for which figures are readily available, is as set out in the following table.
KILDARE DIVISION 31 JULY 2017
|
DISTRICT |
STATION |
GD |
SG |
IN |
SU |
CS |
AC |
TOTAL |
|
KILDARE |
ATHY |
24 |
3 |
1 |
28 |
|||
|
CASTLEDERMOT |
3 |
1 |
4 |
|||||
|
KILDARE |
28 |
7 |
1 |
1 |
37 |
|||
|
MONASTEREVIN |
4 |
1 |
5 |
|||||
|
NEWBRIDGE |
40 |
6 |
46 |
|||||
|
RATHANGAN |
2 |
1 |
3 |
|||||
|
TOTAL |
101 |
19 |
2 |
1 |
|
|
123 |
|
|
LEIXLIP |
CARBURY |
6 |
2 |
8 |
||||
|
CELBRIDGE |
9 |
1 |
10 |
|||||
|
KILCOCK |
10 |
10 |
||||||
|
LEIXLIP |
47 |
8 |
2 |
1 |
58 |
|||
|
MAYNOOTH |
11 |
1 |
12 |
|||||
|
TOTAL |
83 |
12 |
2 |
1 |
|
|
98 |
|
|
NAAS |
CLANE |
6 |
1 |
7 |
||||
|
KILCULLEN |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|||||
|
NAAS |
92 |
14 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
110 |
||
|
ROBERTSTOWN |
2 |
2 |
||||||
|
TOTAL |
101 |
16 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
121 |
|
|
KILDARE Total |
|
285 |
47 |
6 |
3 |
1 |
|
342 |
LAOIS/OFFALY DIVISION 31 JULY 2017
|
DISTRICT |
STATION |
GD |
SG |
IN |
SU |
CS |
AC |
TOTAL |
|
BIRR |
BANAGHER |
4 |
1 |
5 |
||||
|
BIRR |
25 |
6 |
1 |
32 |
||||
|
CLOGHAN |
1 |
1 |
||||||
|
FERBANE |
3 |
1 |
4 |
|||||
|
KILCORMAC |
2 |
2 |
||||||
|
KINNITTY |
1 |
1 |
||||||
|
SHINRONE |
1 |
1 |
||||||
|
TOTAL |
37 |
8 |
|
1 |
|
|
46 |
|
|
PORTLAOISE |
ABBEYLEIX |
15 |
6 |
21 |
||||
|
ARLES |
1 |
1 |
||||||
|
BALLYLINAN |
2 |
2 |
||||||
|
BORRIS-IN-OSSORY |
1 |
1 |
||||||
|
CLONASLEE |
1 |
1 |
||||||
|
DURROW |
1 |
1 |
||||||
|
MOUNTMELLICK |
4 |
1 |
5 |
|||||
|
MOUNTRATH |
2 |
1 |
3 |
|||||
|
PORTARLINGTON |
11 |
3 |
14 |
|||||
|
PORTLAOISE |
107 |
16 |
6 |
1 |
130 |
|||
|
RATHDOWNEY |
2 |
2 |
||||||
|
STRADBALLY |
2 |
2 |
||||||
|
TOTAL |
149 |
27 |
6 |
|
1 |
|
183 |
|
|
TULLAMORE |
CLARA |
4 |
1 |
5 |
||||
|
DAINGEAN |
2 |
2 |
||||||
|
EDENDERRY |
10 |
2 |
12 |
|||||
|
RHODE |
1 |
1 |
||||||
|
TULLAMORE |
62 |
9 |
2 |
1 |
74 |
|||
|
TOTAL |
79 |
12 |
2 |
1 |
|
|
94 |
|
|
LAOIS/OFFALY Total |
|
265 |
47 |
8 |
2 |
1 |
|
323 |
