Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 September 2023
693. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Justice the individual who is responsible for allocating specific Garda resources to an area on a given day; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40043/23]
View answerAs 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 Gardaí throughout the country.
I am, however, assured by An Garda Síochána that the distribution of resources is kept under constant review to ensure their best use. The Garda Síochána Analysis Service assists with data analysis to monitor crime trends and geo-map locations and times of crimes, to optimise the planned use of resources to combat crime.
The Deputy may be aware that a number of actions are in progress under A Policing Service For Our Future, the Government's implementation plan for the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland Report.
Rollout by the Garda Commissioner of the new Garda Operating Model is well underway, with seven of the now 21 divisions rolled out so far.
The model is designed to make changes to the structures of An Garda Síochána to provide for more frontline Gardaí, increased Garda visibility, and a wider range of policing services for people in their local area.
Each Division will, for the first time, have a Superintendent dedicated to Crime, a Superintendent dedicated to Governance and Performance Assurance, and a number of Superintendents in charge of Community Engagement. Each Community Engagement Superintendent will be responsible for community engagement, crime prevention, incident investigation, victim support, incident response, general visibility, engagement policing and community policing activities.
