Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 November 2020
702. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí stationed at Pearse Street Garda station in each of the years 2016 to 2019 and to date in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37929/20]
View answer704. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí stationed at Kevin Street Garda station in each of the years 2016 to 2019 and to date in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37931/20]
View answer706. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí stationed at Irishtown Garda station in each of the years 2016 to 2019 and to date in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37933/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 702, 704 and 706 together.
The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is, by law, responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters and deployment of resources. 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 policing priorities and crime trends, 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.
An Garda Síochána has been allocated an unprecedented budget of €1.952 billion for 2021. This level of funding is enabling sustained, ongoing recruitment of Garda members and staff. As a result, Garda numbers are now some 14,600 Garda members and over 3,000 Garda staff nationwide. Budget 2021 will allow for the recruitment of up to 620 new Gardaí and an extra 500 Garda staff.
As the Deputy is aware, the Garda stations referred to are located within the DMR South Central Division. At the 31 October 2020 there were 730 Garda members attached to the DMR South Central Division which represents an increase of almost 16% since 2016. These Garda members are supported by 126 Garda staff which represents an increase of 350% since 2016 when 28 Garda members were assigned to the Division.
For the Deputy's information, the table below which has been provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of Gardaí assigned to the DMR South Central Division at 31 October 2020.
Detailed information in relation to Garda numbers, including the year end figures for the Division mentioned in each of the years from 2010 to 2019, 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_September_2020.xlsx/Files/002_Garda_Numbers_by_Division_District_and_Station_2009_to_September_2020.xlsx
Additional information on Garda staff, the Garda Workforce and other facts and figures are available at the following link: http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/An_Garda_Siochana_facts_and_figures
