Róisín Shortall
Question:689. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number and rank of gardaí allocated to the Ballymun Garda station; and the comparative figures for September 2013 to 2016. [39011/17]
View answerMonday, 11 September 2017
Questions (689)
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. I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that the allocation of Gardaí is continually monitored and reviewed taking into account all relevant factors including crime trends, demographics, and security assessments relating to the area in question so as to ensure optimal use is made of Garda human resources. 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 Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) North Division on the 31 July 2017, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 667 with 46 Garda Reserves and 38 Civilians also attached to the Division. Of the Gardaí, 220 were assigned to Ballymun District with 119 in Ballymun Station. When appropriate, the work of the Division 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 to 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. Funding has also been provided for the recruitment of 300 Garda Reserves.
This plan is progressing apace. I am informed by the Commissioner, since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, that almost 1,200 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide, 90 of whom were assigned to the DMR North Division. I am also informed that a further four hundred 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.
I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that the number and rank of Gardaí allocated to the Ballymun station in each of the years 2013 - 2016 and to 31 July 2017, the latest date for which figures are currently available, is as set out in the following table.
BALLYMUN GARDA STATION 2013-2017
|
YEAR |
GD |
SG |
IN |
SU |
CS |
AC |
TOTAL |
|
2013 |
94 |
18 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
118 |
|
|
2014 |
88 |
19 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
114 |
|
|
2015 |
97 |
19 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
124 |
|
|
2016 |
93 |
17 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
117 |
|
|
2017* |
98 |
15 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
119 |
*Up to 31 July 2017.