Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
1078. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Justice the number of community 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. [37317/23]
View answerI want to emphasise that community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána, and that all Gardaí have a role to play in community policing in the course of carrying out their duties.
Indeed, 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 administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the distribution of Garda members between the different Garda units and Divisions. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.
I am however assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review to ensure their optimal use.
The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda Síochána is central to this policy. Funding has been provided for up to 1,000 new Gardaí this year and we are seeing more Garda recruits enter Templemore every 11 weeks.
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 front-line 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.
The table below, which was provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the location of all Community Gardaí assigned to Wicklow Division at the end of December 2021 and 2022, and at the end of July 2023, the latest date for which figures are available. Please note that this information is based upon operational data which has been provided by An Garda Síochána and may be liable to change.
|
Wicklow Division |
2021 |
2022 |
Jul-23 |
|
Bray |
3 |
3 |
2 |
|
Baltinglass |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Greystones |
4 |
0 |
2 |
|
Arklow |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Total |
9 |
5 |
6 |
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/
