An Garda Síochána

Tuesday, 26 July 2022

Questions (1587)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

1587. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice the national average number of gardaí per 1,000 of the population; the number of gardaí per 1,000 of the population in each Garda division and station, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41178/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Justice

I have requested the information sought by the Deputy, which regrettably was not available in the timeframe available. I will write to the Deputy when this information is to hand.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51

I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 1578 of 26 July 2022 where you sought:

‘the national average number of gardaí per 1,000 of the population; the number of gardaí per 1,000 of the population in each Garda division and station 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.

As you will be aware, 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 the deployment of Garda members throughout the State. As Minister, I have no role in the matter.

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 optimal use. I understand that it is a matter for the Divisional Chief Superintendent to determine the 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 on 30 June 2022, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 14,299 Garda members across the country. The table appended below outlines the number of Gardaí at all ranks assigned to each of the four geographic regions and 28 geographic divisions. I am informed that the data is not available at station level.

As you will appreciate, Garda numbers nationwide can be affected by a number of factors, including retirements, medical discharges and resignations. The impact of policing measures and other steps to support the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic has also had an exceptional impact across the country over the past two years.

Appendix

Region/Division	Garda #s	Population*	per 1000
D.M.R.	3,920	1,392,290	2.82
D.M.R. EAST	370	207,911	1.78
D.M.R. NORTH	786	363,162	2.16
D.M.R. NORTH CENTRAL	658	97,656	6.74
D.M.R. SOUTH	562	256,884	2.19
D.M.R. SOUTH CENTRAL	641	135,340	4.74
D.M.R. WEST	748	331,337	2.26
DMR OFFICE	8
DMR ROADS POLICING	94
DMR SOUTH (COMM & CONTROL)	53
EASTERN	2,776	1,276,390	2.17
KILDARE	439	229,645	1.91
KILKENNY/CARLOW	336	159,000	2.11
LAOIS / OFFALY	385	162,081	2.38
MEATH	331	199,378	1.66
WATERFORD	383	125,542	3.05
WESTMEATH	255	98,071	2.60
WEXFORD	337	154,882	2.18
WICKLOW	310	147,791	2.10
NORTH WESTERN	2,764	1,047,168	2.64
CAVAN / MONAGHAN	386	142,155	2.72
DONEGAL	446	164,528	2.71
GALWAY	615	266,874	2.30
LOUTH	401	135,372	2.96
MAYO	321	135,463	2.37
ROSCOMMON / LONGFORD	299	101,553	2.94
SLIGO / LEITRIM	296	101,223	2.92
SOUTHERN	3,016	1,205,648	2.50
CLARE	312	113,587	2.75
CORK CITY	719	267,248	2.69
CORK NORTH	337	162,083	2.08
CORK WEST	293	137,475	2.13
KERRY	352	148,481	2.37
LIMERICK	603	212,045	2.84
TIPPERARY	400	164,729	2.43
National Total (Geographic Regions)	12,476	4,921,496	2.54
HQ, College, National/Specialist Units	1,823
National Total (All)	14,299		2.91

*CSO figures: 2019 population projections from the 2016 Census