Cian O'Callaghan
Question:1129. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the current number of members of the Garda Reserve. [37917/23]
View answerMonday, 11 September 2023
Questions (1129, 1159)
Patrick Costello
Question:1159. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice for a breakdown in tabular form for the past five years for the number and ranks of gardaí in the Garda Reserves; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38316/23]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1129 and 1159 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), for the management of An Garda Síochána as well as the allocation and distribution of resources. This includes responsibility for the recruitment, training and deployment of Garda members and members of the Garda Reserve.
As Minister, I have no responsibility in these matters. I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review, in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use.
As the Deputy is aware the Garda Reserve is a voluntary, unpaid body drawn from the community to assist the existing Service at times when extra personnel are required. I am informed by the Garda authorities that there is no rank structure within the Garda Reserve, each Reserve Garda is assigned to either a regular, events or community policing unit in their assigned Garda station. I am further informed that there are currently 364 Garda Reserves.
I am advised by Garda management that a recruitment campaign for the Garda Reserve is expected in the first quarter of 2024. The Reserve reinforces An Garda Síochána's essential community links, and provides capacity to draw on additional resources to assist in policing.
The table below, which was provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of Garda Reserves at end December 2019 up to end July 2023, the latest date for which figures are available.
|
Garda Reserve by Division |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
July 2023 |
|
Waterford |
15 |
7 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
|
Wexford |
8 |
8 |
9 |
8 |
8 |
|
Kilkenny/Carlow |
23 |
20 |
20 |
19 |
18 |
|
Tipperary |
12 |
11 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
|
Cork North |
8 |
7 |
12 |
10 |
10 |
|
Cork City |
33 |
31 |
30 |
28 |
29 |
|
Cork West |
7 |
4 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
|
Kerry |
16 |
16 |
12 |
11 |
11 |
|
Limerick |
25 |
20 |
15 |
13 |
13 |
|
Donegal |
12 |
12 |
9 |
8 |
7 |
|
Cavan/Monaghan |
8 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
|
Sligo/Leitrim |
14 |
12 |
14 |
10 |
10 |
|
Louth |
21 |
21 |
20 |
20 |
17 |
|
Clare |
5 |
3 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
|
Mayo |
12 |
12 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
|
Galway |
24 |
24 |
23 |
22 |
21 |
|
Roscommon/Longford |
4 |
4 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
|
Westmeath |
11 |
7 |
9 |
10 |
10 |
|
Meath |
12 |
12 |
17 |
16 |
17 |
|
Kildare |
15 |
13 |
13 |
11 |
10 |
|
Laois/Offaly |
16 |
16 |
19 |
11 |
11 |
|
Wicklow |
16 |
14 |
13 |
11 |
11 |
|
DMR East |
5 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
3 |
|
DMR North |
36 |
35 |
36 |
32 |
32 |
|
DMR North Central |
33 |
28 |
31 |
16 |
15 |
|
DMR South |
14 |
8 |
10 |
10 |
9 |
|
DMR South Central |
31 |
27 |
27 |
26 |
25 |
|
DMR West |
22 |
22 |
19 |
18 |
18 |
|
TOTAL |
458 |
407 |
423 |
375 |
364 |
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 here:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/bd777-an-garda-siochana-your-police-service-some-facts-and-figures/