John Brady
Question:464. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Justice the number of Garda community officers for each district in County Wicklow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22702/21]
View answerWednesday, 5 May 2021
Questions (464)
Written answers
The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the law for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters and deployment of resources. As Minister, I have no role in such decisions. 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.
It is important to note that, to date, the official categorisation as a Community Garda has simply referred to those exclusively assigned to building relationships with local communities and civil society, including giving talks to schools, community groups and others. However, as the Deputy is aware, community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána and all Gardaí have a role to play in community policing in carrying out their duties. Indeed, this is fundamental to the new Garda Operating Model recommended by the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland and currently being rolled out under 'A Policing Service for Our Future', the Government's implementation plan for the Commission's recommendations.
As the Deputy may be aware, my Department also recently published the General Scheme of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill. The Bill sets out a statutory framework at national and local level to drive the delivery of community safety, including the establishment of local Community Safety Partnerships. The Partnerships, which will replace and build upon Joint Policing Committees, will each develop local community safety plans that respond to the specific needs of their community. Membership will include local representatives, service provides and a range of community representatives who will work in partnership, supported by dedicated staff.
The table below, which has been provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of community Gardaí assigned to each Wicklow District at 31 March 2021, the latest date for which figures are available.
|
Wicklow Division |
Total |
|
Baltinglass District |
1 |
|
Bray District |
8 |
|
Wicklow District |
1 |
|
Total |
10 |
A detailed breakdown of the Garda workforce, including the national distribution of Community Gardaí, 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 requested in relation to Community Garda may be accessed along with information about the wider Garda workforce at the following link: http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/Garda_Workforce