Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 January 2021
201. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí assigned to each station in Cork city and county; the role of each, that is, community garda, traffic corps and so on in tabular form; and the opening times of each station. [4579/21]
View answerAn Garda Síochána has been allocated an unprecedented budget of €1.952 billion for 2021. The significant level of funding provided over recent years is enabling sustained, ongoing recruitment of Garda members and staff. As a result, there are now approximately 14,600 Garda members and over 3,000 Garda staff nationwide.
Budget 2021 will allow for the recruitment of up to 620 new Gardaí. The Budget allocation also provides for an increase in supervisory ranks at Sergeant and Inspector level.
More Garda recruits and more Garda staff means extra members of the service on the frontline and in specialist units battling organised crime groups, supporting victims, and keeping people safe.
The 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 decisions on such 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.
A detailed breakdown of Garda numbers by Division, District and Station is available on my Department’s website, in the interests of transparency and for the convenience of Deputies and the wider public. This information is updated every month with the latest data provided by An Garda Síochána. The Information on Garda members requested may be accessed at the following link:
http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/Garda_Workforce
The attached spreadsheet sets out the opening times of Garda Stations in the Cork Division as provided by Southern Region in October 2020. The opening hours of all Garda stations are a matter kept under ongoing review by senior Garda management, and as such I have no role in this matter.
I am informed that overall policing arrangements and operational strategies are continually monitored and reviewed. Such monitoring ensures that optimum use is made of Garda Resources and the best possible Garda service is provided to the general public.
As the Deputy is aware 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.
