Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 February 2022
194. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice the number of community Gardaí assigned to the Cork west division; the stations which they are attached to; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10496/22]
View answerThe Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, with an unprecedented allocation provided in Budget 2022 of in excess of €2 billion. This includes funding for the recruitment of up to an additional 800 Garda members and up to 400 Garda Staff.
As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, which includes decisions on the deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.
I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of policing priorities and crime trends, to ensure their optimum use. I understand that it is a matter for the Divisional Chief Superintendent to determine the optimum distribution of duties among the personnel available to them, having regard to the profile of each area within the Division and its specific needs.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that at 31 January 2022, there were 297 Gardaí attached to the Cork West Division. This represents an increase of almost 8% since December 2015.
Detailed information on the Garda workforce is available on my Department's website at
www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/Garda_Workforce
The table below shows the number of Community Gardaí attached to the Cork West Division as at 31/01/2022.
|
Cork West 31/01/2022 |
GD |
|
Bandon |
1 |
|
Bantry |
1 |
|
Clonakilty |
1 |
|
Macroom |
1 |
|
Total |
4 |
It should be noted that, to date, the official categorisation as a Community Garda has simply referred to those who are exclusively assigned to building relationships with local communities and civil society, including giving talks to schools, community groups and others. It is important to note, however, that community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána and that all Gardaí have a role to play in community policing in the course of 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 .
