Noel Rock
Question:257. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of active gardaí in December in each year to date in 2018. [52946/18]
View answerTuesday, 18 December 2018
Questions (257, 264, 265, 266)
Noel Rock
Question:264. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of active gardaí per year in December up to and including December 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52978/18]
View answerNoel Rock
Question:265. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of active gardaí by division; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52979/18]
View answerNoel Rock
Question:266. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of active gardaí by division and rank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52980/18]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 257 and 264 to 266, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution under review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities to ensure optimum use is made of the resources.
I can assure the Deputy that 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.
I am informed by the Commissioner that since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, almost 2,400 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide. Garda numbers, taking account of projected retirements, are expected to increase to around the 14,000 mark by year end - an increase of 500 since the end of 2016, and are on target to reach 15,000 by 2021.
As outlined on Budget Day, the Government has increased the budget for An Garda Síochána to €1.76 billion for 2019 which includes provision for the recruitment of up to 800 Gardaí next year. The Commissioner has informed me that he intends to recruit a total of 600 trainee Gardaí in 2019. At the same time, it is his intention to recruit a net 600 Garda Staff (civilians). The Commissioner has also indicated that he plans to redeploy 500 Gardaí from administrative duties to frontline policing in 2019. This is in addition to the 250 Gardaí expected to be redeployed to frontline duties in 2018.
The Garda strength by Station and Rank for each Division, in each of the years 2009 to 31 October 2018 is available on my Department’s website through the link below.
Garda Numbers by Division District and Station
For more general information on Garda Facts and Figures please see the link below
www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/An_Garda_Siochana_facts_and_figures