Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 June 2021
178. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí in the Midleton and Fermoy districts at the end of April 2021; the way this compares to the end of April 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29976/21]
View answerThe resources provided by government to An Garda Síochána have reached unprecedented levels, with an allocation of €1.88 billion in 2020 and of €1.952 billion in 2021. This has enabled sustained, ongoing recruitment.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the general management and administration of the Garda organisation under the Garda Síochána Act 2005. This includes the deployment of members of An Garda Síochána throughout the State. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.
As of 30 April 2021 there were 123 Gardaí assigned to the Midleton District, which represents an increase of 7.9% since 2015. As of the same date, there were 103 Gardaí assigned to the Fermoy District, which represents an increase of 21.2% since 2015.
There has been an increase in the number of Gardaí assigned to the Fermoy District from 98 Gardaí in April 2020 to 103 in April 2021, which is an overall increase of 5.1%.
As the Deputy will appreciate, Garda numbers can be affected by a number of factors, including retirements, medical discharges and resignations. The impact of policing measures and other steps to support the public health restrictions has also, exceptionally, had an impact over the past year. There has been a decrease in the number of Gardaí assigned to the Midleton District from 134 Gardaí in April 2020 to 123 in April 2021.
The Deputy may wish to note, however, that recruitment, which had been paused, has now recommenced in 2021 with 150 Garda trainees entering the Garda College on 24 May, the first of four intakes and a revised planned total of 450 for the year. This continuing recruitment forms an important component in the unprecedented and sustained level of investment being made in Garda resources in recent years, and is equipping the organisation to meet community needs throughout the country.
