Bernard Durkan
Question:593. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the total number of Gardaí available throughout the country on a full-time basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16711/22]
View answerTuesday, 29 March 2022
Questions (593, 595)
Bernard Durkan
Question:595. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí available for duty in all areas throughout the country at any one time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16713/22]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 593 and 595 together.
The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, with the unprecedented allocation provided in Budget 2022 of over €2 billion. This includes funding for the recruitment of up to an additional 800 Garda members and up to 400 Garda staff. It should be noted that many of the Garda members to be recruited will be drawn from the recent Garda recruitment competition which closed last week. I note the strong interest in this campaign, with over 10,000 applications received.
Additionally, over 800 Garda members have also been redeployed in recent years from administrative duties to frontline policing roles where their expertise can be utilised fully.
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 advised by the Garda authorities that as of 28 February 2022, the latest date for which figures are available, there were a total of 14,315 current Garda members.
I am assured 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. Therefore, the full complement of resources fluctuates at any given time and where a deficiency in resources is identified the matter is considered fully and addressed accordingly.
I am further informed that it is not possible to provide a figure for the number of Gardaí on duty at any one time due to the fluctuating nature of crossovers, rosters, and other necessary changes.
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.
Further detailed information in relation to Garda numbers is available on my Department’s website. This information is updated every month with the latest data provided by An Garda Síochána, and includes the number of Gardaí by station across the whole country.
The information can be found at the following link:
www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/An_Garda_Siochana_facts_and_figures