Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022
1213. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Justice if she will report on the work undertaken on the reconfiguration of the child protection units in An Garda Síochána; the impact this reconfiguration has had on the number of cases being investigated each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63278/21]
View answerI thank the Deputy for tabling this question which I understand he has clarified refers to the nationwide rollout of the Divisional Protective Service Units.
As the Deputy will be aware, Divisional Protective Services Units (DPSUs) support the delivery of a consistent and professional approach to the investigation of sexual and domestic crime. Personnel assigned to DPSUs have been provided with a bespoke training course consisting of a number of modules addressing issues such as: investigation of sexual crime; child protection; investigation of domestic abuse; online child exploitation and sex offender management.
The Divisional Protective Services Units provide a best practice service in relation to all relevant incidents and interventions and are responsible for the quality and conduct of their investigations, including the regular updating of victims.
The Garda Commissioner is responsible under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) for the management and administration of Garda business. As Minister, I play no direct role in their independent functions. I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of policing priorities and crime trends, to ensure their optimum use.
On foot of the Deputy's question, I contacted the Garda Commissioner to provide information on the numbers assigned to the DPSUs. The information received is set out in the table below which shows the number of Garda members attached to the Divisional Protective Services Units as at 14/01/2022. Garda staff are not captured by unit, but rather by Division.
|
DPSU 14.01.2022 |
Detective Inspector |
Inspector |
Detective Sergeant |
Sergeant |
Detective Garda |
Garda |
Grand Total |
|
CAVAN / MONAGHAN |
0 |
|
1 |
|
10 |
|
11 |
|
CLARE |
1 |
|
1 |
|
6 |
|
8 |
|
CORK CITY |
0 |
|
3 |
|
19 |
|
22 |
|
CORK NORTH |
0 |
|
2 |
|
8 |
|
10 |
|
CORK WEST |
1 |
|
2 |
|
9 |
|
12 |
|
D.M.R. EAST |
0 |
|
2 |
|
9 |
|
11 |
|
D.M.R. NORTH |
0 |
|
4 |
|
19 |
|
23 |
|
D.M.R. NORTH CENTRAL |
0 |
|
4 |
|
20 |
|
24 |
|
D.M.R. SOUTH |
0 |
|
4 |
|
18 |
|
22 |
|
D.M.R. SOUTH CENTRAL |
0 |
|
2 |
|
15 |
|
17 |
|
D.M.R. WEST |
1 |
|
4 |
|
15 |
|
20 |
|
DONEGAL |
0 |
|
1 |
|
5 |
|
6 |
|
GALWAY |
0 |
|
2 |
|
15 |
|
17 |
|
KERRY |
1 |
|
1 |
|
9 |
|
11 |
|
KILDARE |
0 |
|
2 |
|
10 |
|
12 |
|
KILKENNY/CARLOW |
0 |
1 |
2 |
|
10 |
2 |
15 |
|
LAOIS / OFFALY |
0 |
|
2 |
|
10 |
|
12 |
|
LIMERICK |
0 |
|
0 |
|
10 |
1 |
11 |
|
LOUTH |
0 |
|
2 |
|
9 |
|
11 |
|
MAYO |
0 |
|
2 |
|
9 |
|
11 |
|
MEATH |
0 |
|
1 |
|
6 |
|
7 |
|
ROSCOMMON / LONGFORD |
0 |
|
1 |
|
5 |
|
6 |
|
SLIGO / LEITRIM |
0 |
|
1 |
|
5 |
|
6 |
|
TIPPERARY |
0 |
|
2 |
|
9 |
|
11 |
|
WATERFORD |
0 |
|
2 |
|
10 |
2 |
14 |
|
WESTMEATH |
0 |
|
1 |
|
6 |
|
7 |
|
WEXFORD |
0 |
|
2 |
|
10 |
|
12 |
|
WICKLOW |
0 |
|
2 |
|
6 |
|
8 |
|
Grand Total |
4 |
1 |
55 |
292 |
5 |
357 |
Funding was provided in Budget 2022 for keeping our communities safe and preventing crime in all its forms. This included provision for high visibility policing through the recruitment of 800 additional Garda Trainees and 400 Garda staff.
I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to tackling domestic, sexual and gender based violence in all its forms, and to supporting victims of such heinous crimes. I want to ensure that victims feel empowered to report what has happened to them and that when they do, they are fully supported at every stage of their interaction with our justice system.
The Government's commitment to combatting domestic, sexual and gender based violence and to supporting victims is reflected in the funding allocated under Budget 2022, with a total of €13m allocated to my Department for its work in this area.
This represents an increased allocation of €5.35m and will enable us to roll out specific awareness raising and training programmes to combat domestic, sexual and gender based violence. It will also allow us to provide additional supports to NGOs and specific domestic violence intervention programmes and it will support a number of front line activities.
As part of this, an additional €1.1m will be used to put in place a legal advice and legal aid service in court for victims of sexual violence and €1 million is being provided to the Garda vote to refurbish and upgrade the Divisional Protective Service Units. This will allow us to better support and protect vulnerable victims.
The additional funding secured under Budget 2022 will allow us to continue to build on the work undertaken last year. We will continue to work to improve the system for victims, to better support them so they have confidence to reach out for help and report what has happened.
I wish to advise the Deputy that there is no central record kept for individual investigations assigned to Garda personnel in each DPSU and I have been informed that it would require a disproportionate amount of time and resources to compile this information.
