Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 November 2020
159. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí allocated to each Garda station in the DMR by rank; the number in the community Garda service in each station in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37292/20]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters and deployment of resources. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. 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.
The resources provided by Government to An Garda Síochána have reached unprecedented levels, with an allocation of €1.88 billion for 2020 and of €1.952 billion in Budget 2021. This level of investment is enabling sustained, ongoing recruitment of Garda members and staff. There are now approximately 14,600 Gardaí nationwide, supported by over 3,000 Garda staff. Taken together, this number of Garda members and staff is delivering a significant growth in operational policing hours nationwide.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the total number of Gardaí stationed in the DMR as of 31 October 2020 is 3,924.
Table 1 attached shows the Garda Strength by grade in the DMR by division, district and station.
With regard to the number in the community Garda service in each station, I am advised by the Commissioner that not all of the information requested is readily available in the format requested, as Community Gardaí are assigned on a Garda Divisional basis.
I am however informed that the table below shows the number of Community Gardaí by division as at 30 September 2020, the latest date for which figures are available.
|
DIVISION |
Sept 2020 |
|
D.M.R. EAST |
21 |
|
D.M.R. NORTH |
17 |
|
D.M.R. NORTH CENTRAL |
54 |
|
D.M.R. SOUTH |
50 |
|
D.M.R. SOUTH CENTRAL |
56 |
|
D.M.R. WEST |
76 |
|
TOTAL |
274 |
The Deputy may wish to know that detailed information in relation to Garda numbers is available on my Department’s website. This information is updated every month with the latest data provided by An Garda Síochána, at the following link:
http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/002_Garda_Numbers_by_Division_District_and_Station_2009_to_August_2020.xlsx/Files/002_Garda_Numbers_by_Division_District_and_Station_2009_to_August_2020.xlsx
Figures for Community Policing by Division can be found on my Department's website at the following link:
http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/Community_Policing
Additional information on Garda staff, the Garda Workforce and other relevant statistics are available at the following link:
http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/An_Garda_Siochana_facts_and_figures.
