Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
1076. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí in County Wicklow; the stations in which they have been located in each of the years 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37315/23]
View answerI can assure the Deputy the Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and the 2023 budget of over €2 billion will allow for the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff with Garda recruits entering Templemore every 11 weeks.
Overall, since 2015 there has been an almost 9% net increase in the number of Gardaí. These Gardaí are supported by around 3,140 Garda staff, which is over 56% more than the number of staff in 2015. This increases the availability of Gardaí to concentrate on front-line policing duties.
As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the distribution and stationing of the Garda Síochána throughout the State. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.
I am however assured by the Commissioner that this distribution is kept under review in light of emerging crime trends and policing needs.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that there were 295 Garda members assigned to Wicklow Division at the end of July 2023, the latest date for which figures are available. These Garda members are supported by 30 Garda staff which represents an increase of over 15% since 2017.
This increase in Garda staff numbers means that Gardaí can be redeployed from administrative to operational policing duties, where their training and policing expertise can be used to best effect.
The tables appended to this answer provide the number of Garda members by rank who were assigned to Wicklow Garda Division at the end of December 2021, at the end of December 2022, and at 31 July of this year, the latest date for which figures are available.
The Deputy will wish to be aware that in the interest of transparency, detailed statistics on Garda workforce 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/
