An Garda Síochána

Thursday, 16 November 2023

Questions (184)

Patrick Costello

Question:

184. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice for a breakdown of Garda staff in each divisional protective services unit, broken down by rank. [50391/23]

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Written answers

I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Unfortunately, the information was not received in time. I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51

I refer to your Parliamentary Question No. 184 of 16 November 2023 asking for a breakdown of Garda staff in each divisional protective services unit, broken down by rank. You will recall that at the time, I contacted An Garda Síochána to request the information relevant to the question posed by the Deputy and I undertook to contact you as soon as the information is to hand. The nationwide roll out of Divisional Protective Service Units (DPSUs), which was an action under both the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland and ‘Supporting a Victim's Journey’, has been completed.

As the deputy will be aware, there is now a DPSU in every Garda division across the country.

This is to ensure that when vulnerable victims of crimes such as domestic abuse and sexual violence present to Gardaí, they are met with a consistently high standard of specialist, sensitive, professional and expert assistance.

I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that when consideration is given to the allocation of resources (including newly attested Probationer Gardaí, personnel being allocated to specialist units, e.g. Roads Policing, Community Policing, Divisional Protective Services Units, Divisional Drug Units, etc.) and in facilitating transfers of personnel to/from any Division, account is given to commitments and undertakings outlined in the Annual Policing Plan and priorities as determined in delivering ‘A Policing Service for The Future’.

Also taken into account in the context of the requirements of all Garda Divisions nationwide, are local and national crime trends and workloads; policing arrangements and operational strategies; minimum establishment statistics; local population and trends, geographical area and size; transfer applications, including welfare / personnel issues and concerns.

To ensure the continued level of delivery of policing services within Garda Divisions, local and Senior Garda Management are also consulted during the allocation of personnel and are responsible for the specific deployment/assignment of duties being undertaken at Divisional level.

The situation remains closely monitored by the Garda Senior Leadership Team, particularly in view of commitments to the continued roll-out of the Operating Model of policing at Divisional level to ensure optimum use of all Garda Resources in providing the best possible Garda service to the community.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that Garda staff are assigned at a Divisional level to Crime, Community Engagement, Performance Assurance or Business Services and not recorded as being individually assigned to Divisional Protective Services Units which are part of the Crime functional area.

However, I can advise the Deputy that the table below shows the number of Garda members attached to Regional DPSUs as at 06/11/2023.

DPSU 16/11/2023	Detective Inspector	Inspector	Detective Sergeant	Sergeant	Detective Garda	Garda	Grand Total
DMR	*		14		92		112
Eastern Region	*	*	13		65	*	84
Southern Region	*		15		61	*	80
North Western Region	*		*		63		76
Total	16	*	42		281	*	352

*denoted less than 10

In view of the policy of not providing numbers less than 10, the data was rolled up to Regional Level to facilitate the release of Garda numbers.