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An Garda Síochána

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 February 2022

Tuesday, 8 February 2022

Questions (559)

Cormac Devlin

Question:

559. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Justice the number of vacancies in An Garda Síochána across the Dublin metropolitan region by division and rank from chief superintendent to sergeant in each of the years 2016 to 2021, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6016/22]

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Written answers

As the Deputy will appreciate, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes responsibility for decisions in relation to the allocation and control of Garda personnel and resources. As Minister, I have no role in these matters.

Budget 2022 has provided an unprecedented allocation of in excess of €2 billion to An Garda Síochána, which includes funding for the recruitment of up to an additional 800 Gardaí and a further 400 Garda staff, subject to the public health situation. This significant investment demonstrates the Government's commitment to increasing the Garda workforce to enable the organisation to keep our communities safe.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that while certain more senior ranking positions are identified as vacant when the incumbent moves from the post, the majority of resources in An Garda Síochána are allocated on the basis of policing need and as such the concept of a vacancy arising when a member moves is not applicable. Vacancies in senior positions are filled at the earliest opportunity either through competition or in the short-term by an officer acting up in the position.

On the basis that vacancies are reportable on a national basis only, I am advised that it is not possible to provide an answer to the question posed by the Deputy in this instance. Information on the number of vacancies is subject to change and will only ever be applicable at that particular point in time.

I am further advised that when consideration is given to the allocation of resources (including newly attested Probationer Gardaí and personnel being allocated to specialist units, e.g. Roads Policing, Community Policing, Divisional Protective Services Units, Divisional Drug Units, etc.) and to facilitating transfers of personnel to or from any Division, account is given to commitments and undertakings outlined in the Annual Policing Plan and priorities as determined in delivering ‘A Policing Service for our Future’.

Also taken into account in the context of the requirements of all Garda Divisions nationwide are local and national crime trends and workloads; policing arrangements and operational strategies; minimum establishment statistics; local population and trends; geographical area and size; and transfer applications, including welfare/personnel issues and concerns.

To ensure the continued level of delivery of policing services within Garda Divisions, local and Senior Garda Management are also consulted during the allocation of personnel and are responsible for the specific deployment and assignment of duties being undertaken at Divisional level. The situation remains closely monitored by the Garda Senior Leadership Team, particularly in view of commitments to the continued roll-out of the Operating Model of policing at divisional level to ensure optimum use of all Garda resources in providing the best possible Garda service to the community.

For the Deputy's information, the allocation of Garda members across the Dublin metropolitan region by Division is published on my Department's website and can be accessed using the following link: www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/Garda_Workforce.

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