Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 May 2020
376. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if there are discussions ongoing regarding the potential redistribution of resources and or the full-time reopening of Kilbeggan Garda station, County Westmeath. [8152/20]
View answerThe Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management and control of An Garda Síochána and for the effective and efficient use of Garda resources. This includes responsibility for allocation of personnel and deployment of resources as well as matters such as the opening hours of Garda stations. As Minister, I have no role in these operational decisions. I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the number of Gardaí stationed in Kilbeggan Garda Station as of 30 April 2020 was 3. It is also important to be clear that, as is the case in all locations, additional Garda resources are available in the location referred to by the Deputy by way of Garda Divisional and National Units, where required by operational need.
The resources provided to An Garda Síochána have reached unprecedented levels, with an allocation for 2020 of €1.88 billion. This level of funding is enabling sustained, ongoing recruitment of Garda members and staff and as a result, An Garda Síochána is a growing organisation. There are now over 14,700 Gardaí nationwide, supported by over 3,000 Garda staff and these numbers are continuing to grow. Taken together, this increase in the number of Garda members and staff is delivering a significant increase in operational policing hours nationwide.
A detailed breakdown of Garda numbers is available on my Department’s website. This information is updated every month with the latest data provided by An Garda Síochána. Information on Garda members is available at the following link:
http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/002_Garda_Numbers_by_Division_District_and_Station_2009_to_March_2020.xlsx/Files/002_Garda_Numbers_by_Division_District_and_Station_2009_to_March_2020.xlsx.
Information on Garda staff, the Garda Workforce and other facts and figures are available from the following links:
http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/Garda_Workforce
http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/An_Garda_Siochana_facts_and_figures.
