Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 July 2018
17. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of community policing officers working in Cork city and county; the funding line of these officers; and the supports in place for policing in the community. [29497/18]
View answerI should say at the outset that the distribution of Garda personnel is exclusively the statutory responsibility of the Garda Commissioner.
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.
Community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána. It provides a means of recognising that every community – both urban and rural – has its own concerns and expectations. That is why it is important to recognise that the role of a community Garda is not a specialist role in An Garda Síochána; rather it is the case that all Gardaí have a role to play in community policing in carrying out their duties. The official categorisation as a Community Garda simply refers to those who are exclusively assigned to building relationships with local communities and civil society including giving talks to schools, community groups and others. It is a matter for the Divisional Chief Superintendent to determine the optimum distribution of duties among the personnel available to him or her having regard to the profile of the area and its specific needs.
By way of assistance to the Deputy, I am informed by the Commissioner that on 31 May 2018, the latest date for which information is readily available the strength of the Cork City Division, was 678 of whom 28 are designated as Community Garda. I am also advised that the strength of the Cork North Division was 324 of whom 5 are designated as Community Garda and the strength of the Cork West Division was 297 of whom 4 are designated as Community Garda. 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 Armed Support Units, the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.
As I have stated in the House on other occasions the 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 for an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021, including 15,000 Garda members.
I am informed by the Commissioner that since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, almost 2,000 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide, of whom 53, 25 and 24 members have been assigned to the to the Cork City Division, Cork North Division and the Cork West Divisions respectively. In An Garda Síochána in total, taking account of retirements, numbers increased to 13,551 at the end of 2017 – a net increase of over 600 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. Rebuilding the organisation is underway providing the Commissioner with the resources needed to deploy increasing numbers of Gardaí across all Garda activities including Community Policing.
