Darren O'Rourke
Question:1082. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí by rank attached to each Garda divisional roads policing unit as of 31 December 2023, in tabular form. [1167/24]
View answerWednesday, 17 January 2024
Questions (1082)
Written answers
Road safety is a shared responsibility, and it is one which this Government takes very seriously. We have all been shocked by the recent loss of life on our roads, and concerned by the worrying increase in road fatalities in 2023 and into the early days of the new year, after many years of progress in making our roads safer.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner determines the distribution and stationing of the Garda Síochána throughout the State under Section 33 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended). As Minister I play no role in the assignment of Garda members to the various units/Divisions.
I am however assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in light of identified operational demands.
I can advise the Deputy that road traffic legislation is enforced as part of the day-to-day duties of members of An Garda Síochána and, to assist with this, the Government are committed to providing the funding needed to continue to ramp up Garda recruitment. Budget 2024 provides for 800 -1000 new Garda recruits. Growing the strength of An Garda Síochána to 15,000 and beyond will allow the further expansion of specialist units, including the roads policing unit.
In the interest of transparency, the breakdown of Gardaí assigned to Roads Policing Units is publicly available on my Department's website at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/f179d-roads-policing-unit/
This information is regularly updated with figures supplied by An Garda Síochána, and the information is operational and subject to change. I can inform the Deputy that the latest figures available are up to 30 November 2023.