Claire Kerrane
Question:74. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Justice the number of community policing teams and the number of gardaí in each team in counties Galway, Mayo, Roscommon, Leitrim, Sligo and Longford. [33979/23]
View answerTuesday, 11 July 2023
Questions (74)
Written answers
Community policing 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.
As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, as amended, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, including the distribution and stationing of Garda members throughout the State, including to specialist units within the organisation. As Minister, I have no role in these independent, operational functions.
I am assured that the Garda Commissioner keeps the allocation of resources under continued review to ensure their optimum use. This takes into account factors including crime trends, operational strategies and local population figures.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that a member of An Garda Síochána can be deemed to be a ‘Community Garda’ where that member is allocated to a Community Policing Team (CPT) and is responsible and accountable for applying a problem–solving approach to appropriate crime and policing quality of life issues in a specified geographic area through partnership and engagement.
I am also advised that in some rural areas, the existing personnel will form CPTs. They will have dual functions as first responders and community policing members. Additionally, CPTs will be augmented by Community Support Gardaí who will perform frontline duties and will be assigned a particular Community Policing Area to support dedicated Community Gardaí.
I understand that each Division will have a number of CPTs assigned to it, consisting of an Inspector, Sergeant and Community Policing Gardaí. CPTs will prioritise engagement with communities for the delivery of long-term sustainable solutions to community needs.
It is important to say that these changes are being introduced at a time of record investment in An Garda Síochána. The Government remains committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to keep communities safe, evidenced by the unprecedented allocation of over €2 billion in Budget 2023.
The Deputy will be interested to know that, as of 31 May, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 670 Community Gardaí across the country.
As of the same date, figures in respect of the number of Community Gardaí assigned to Longford/Westmeath, Sligo/Leitrim, Galway, Mayo, Roscommon/Galway East, Roscommon/Longford Divisions are provided in the attached table.