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Garda Deployment

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 July 2020

Tuesday, 7 July 2020

Questions (648)

Paul Donnelly

Question:

648. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí by rank attached to K district community policing unit in each of the years 2016 to 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form [14452/20]

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Written answers

As the Deputy will appreciate, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 as amended, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and controlling the administration and business of An Garda Síochána. Further, the allocation of Garda resources is made in light of identified operational demand. This includes deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no direct role in the matter. I am assured however that Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use. I understand that 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 each area within the Division and its specific needs.

It is however important to note that community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána and that all Gardaí have a role to play in community policing in carrying out their duties. To date, the official categorisation as a Community Garda has simply referred to those who are exclusively assigned to building relationships with local communities and civil society including giving talks to schools, community groups and others.

The area referred to by the Deputy is located within the DMR West Division. The following table, as provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of Community Gardaí assigned to the DMR West Division by rank for the years requested.

Community Gardaí assigned to DMR WEST

Sergeant

Garda

Total

2020 (up to 31 May)

8

69

77

2019

7

59

66

2018

5

58

63

2017

5

59

64

2016

5

48

53

The K District refers to the Garda stations located at Blanchardstown, Finglas and Cabra.

The following table sets out the number of Community Gardaí assigned to the K District for the years requested by the Deputy.

Community Gardaí assigned to the K District (Cabra, Blanchardstown & Finglas Garda stations)

Sergeant

Garda

Total

2020 (up to 31 May)

3

36

39

2019

3

33

36

2018

3

29

32

2017

2

32

34

2016

2

25

27

Further, and as the Deputy will be aware, implementation of this Community Policing Framework takes place in the wider context of implementation of A Policing Service for the Future , the four year implementation plan giving effect to the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. In its report published in September 2018, the Commission outlined a vision and roadmap for strengthening An Garda Síochána and the broader national framework for policing, security and community safety. The report followed extensive consultations with communities and a wide range of stakeholders over fifteen months.

It is important to note that the Community Policing Framework is being piloted in tandem with the roll-out of An Garda Síochána’s new Operational Model, which meets a key commitment in A Policing Service for the Future. The Garda Operating Model reorganises resources around the delivery of frontline policing, placing an increased emphasis on engaging with communities and supporting victims of crime. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that in each Division, there will be a dedicated Superintendent leading a community engagement team. I am confident that this reorganisation will further strengthen community policing and engagement, and provide a more localised, responsive policing service for each Division nationwide.

In a broader sense, the Deputy might also wish to note that implementation of A Policing Service for the Future will see the Garda Síochána Act 2005 repealed and replaced by a Policing and Community Safety Act. My Department is progressing work on the preparation of a Policing and Community Safety Bill as a matter of priority.

In addition to setting out a new governance and oversight framework for policing, it will redefine the functions of An Garda Síochána to include prevention of harm to those who are vulnerable, place an obligation on relevant state agencies to cooperate with An Garda Síochána in relation to the broader issue of community safety and refine local structures supporting local accountability for policing. In that context, my Department is currently in the process of finalising the most appropriate model to achieve this. All existing structures and approaches to community safety have been considered as part of this work and in line with the recommendation of the Commission on the Future of Policing that community policing and community engagement should be at the heart of new structures and policing arrangements.

As I have indicated to the Deputy, work is well advanced on the preparation of the General Scheme of the Bill. Once it is finalised, I intend to bring it before the Government for approval and publication in the normal manner.

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