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 that as of 28 February 2018, the latest date for which figures are available, the total number of Gardaí assigned to the Cavan/Monaghan Division was 329 of whom 7 were of Inspector rank.
The filling of vacancies in the supervisory rank of inspector is a matter for the Commissioner who has responsibility under the Garda Síochána (Promotion) Regulations 2006 (as amended) for holding competitions for the selection of members for promotion to this rank and also the rank of sergeant. I am advised by the Commissioner that competitions for promotion to those ranks are in train and that the requirements of each Division including the Cavan/Monaghan Division will be considered by the Commissioner when assigning successful candidates.
For the Deputy's information I have attached the details of number of Inspectors allocated to the Cavan/Monaghan Division in 2011 to 2017 and up to February 2018, the latest date for which figures are available.
Number of Inspectors allocated to the Cavan/Monaghan Division 2011-2018*
Year
|
No.
|
2011
|
6
|
2012
|
4
|
2013
|
5
|
2014
|
6
|
2015
|
5
|
2016
|
6
|
2017
|
7
|
2018*
|
7
|