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Garda Strength

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 December 2020

Thursday, 10 December 2020

Questions (359)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

359. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí currently available for duty at any given time throughout the towns and villages of north County Kildare; the extent to which these present levels of deployment are in accord with the demographics of the area; the plans to increase these numbers in line with the population changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42812/20]

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Written answers

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 over 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.

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.

The allocation and transfer of Garda Personnel is determined by a number of factors, including crime and non-crime workload, minimum establishment, population, area, policing arrangements, operational strategies and transfers applications, including welfare issues. When allocations are taking place, comprehensive consultation is carried out with Local Management during which all factors are taken into consideration. Where a deficiency in resources is identified the matter is considered fully and addressed accordingly.

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:

www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/Garda_Workforce.

Additional information on Garda staff, the Garda Workforce and other relevant statistics are available at the following link:

www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/An_Garda_Siochana_facts_and_figures .

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