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An Garda Síochána

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 November 2021

Tuesday, 23 November 2021

Questions (484)

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

484. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí by rank attached to community policing unit at Coolock Garda station in each of the past five years in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57432/21]

View answer

Written answers

I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, but I have not received this information in time. I will write directly to the Deputy as soon as the information is to hand.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51
I refer to your Parliamentary Question (No. 484 of 23 November 2021) where you sought:
“The number of Gardaí by rank attached to Community Policing Unit at Coolock Garda station in each of the past five years in tabular form.”
As you will recall, I had sought the information you requested from the Garda authorities and undertook to contact you again once the information was to hand. I have received a report from the Garda authorities and the information requested is outlined below.
In accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 as amended, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. Further, the allocation of Garda resources is made in light of identified operational demands, including deployment of personnel among the Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no direct role in the matter.
The table below which has been provided to me by the Garda authorities sets out the number of Community Gardaí assigned to Coolock Garda station from 31 December 2017 to 31 December 2021.
Community Gardaí by rank attached to Coolock Garda Station

Year

Garda

Sergeant

Total

December 2021

3

1

4

December 2020*

0

0

0

December 2019

3

1

4

December 2018

6

1

7

December 2017

6

1

7

*In 2020, at the beginning of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a decision was made by the Commissioner to redeploy Community Policing and Juvenile Liaison Officer Garda members to frontline policing duties. Although these members were redeployed to align their tours of duty with the regular units, they retained and continued to perform their community policing responsibilities, tasks and duties.
The Garda authorities have informed me that the 3 members were reassigned to the Community Policing Unit and to their pre pandemic Community Policing tours of duty in June 2021. I have been further advised that currently there is 1 Sergeant attached to Community Policing in Coolock Garda Station.
In addition, a dedicated unit was established in Coolock Garda station to carry out Community Policing duties and functions in the Darndale and surrounding areas. This unit supplemented the Community Policing Unit and had 4 members attached to it. This unit was in existence in Coolock Garda station throughout the Covid pandemic.
The Garda authorities inform me that approval was recently given to hold a Community Policing competition in the District for 3 additional Sergeants and 17 Gardaí. This competition is due to commence shortly.
I am further advised that from 14 February 2022 an additional 4 members will be allocated to the Community Policing Unit in Coolock Garda Station on a temporary basis. The additional members will be new to the role and will be re-allocated from the regular unit. In addition, the unit previous referred to as the “Darndale Unit” will be merged with Community Policing.
This will bring the strength of the unit to 1 Inspector, 1 Sergeant and 10 Garda members in the interim and until the conclusion of the competition.
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