As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of the Garda organisation under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended). This includes the allocation of resources and deployment of Garda members throughout the State. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.
However, I am informed by the Garda authorities that the table below sets out the number of Garda members assigned to Clare Division at end December 2020 up to end December 2022 and at 31 March 2023, the latest date for which figures are available.
Clare division
|
2020
|
2021
|
2022
|
March 2023
|
Total
|
314
|
313
|
306
|
305
|
I am further informed by the Garda authorities that the below table outlines the number of Garda members who were redeployed or retired from the Clare Garda division during 2021 and 2022.
Clare division
|
2021
|
2022
|
Redeployed
|
12
|
18
|
Retired
|
<10 *
|
11
|
* Figures less than 10 are not provided by An Garda Síochána for data protection reasons.
The below table, also provided by the Garda authorities, outlines the number of newly attested Gardaí allocated to the Clare Division since the recommencement of recruitment to date.
Clare Division
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
2019
|
2020
|
2021
|
2022
|
Total
|
Total
|
10
|
5
|
10
|
15
|
0
|
6
|
3
|
2
|
51
|
I am advised by the Garda authorities that to ensure the continued level of delivery of policing services within Garda Divisions, local and Senior Garda Management are consulted in relation to the allocation of personnel and are responsible for the specific deployment/assignment of duties undertaken at Divisional level.
I am assured that the delivery of policing services is 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, detailed statistics on Garda numbers are published on gov.ie and are updated regularly by my Department from information provided by An Garda Síochána. The statistics can be accessed using the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/bd777-an-garda-siochana-your-police-service-some-facts-and-figures/