Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 January 2024
109. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice the number of designated community gardaí in the Cork City Division for the years 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019; if she will provide this information in tabular form, by station; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4460/24]
View answerCommunity policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána, and all Gardaí have a role to play in community policing in the course of carrying out their duties. Community policing is also fundamental to the new Garda Operating Model which is currently being rolled across the country and is fully commenced in ten Garda divisions.
The new model will provide more front-line Gardaí, increased Garda visibility, and a wider range of policing services for people in their local area. It will divide service delivery within division into four functional areas, one of the most important areas being Community Engagement. This will allow for a greater, more consistent, focus on community policing in all divisions.
The Garda authorities have advised that a member of An Garda Síochána can be deemed to be a ‘Community Garda’ where that person 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 very much welcome the new interactive map launched recently on the Garda website which is designed to allow the public to identify the local CPT in their area. This map will continue to develop in line with the continued rollout of the new Garda Operating Model.
While there are designated CPTs within An Garda Síochána, It is important to note that the number of Gardaí assigned to those teams is not an accurate reflection of the number of Gardaí who are carrying out community policing work on a daily basis around the country.
Community Policing Teams strategically manage and lead the development, delivery and evaluation of the Garda Community Policing Framework, and, as I have said, Gardaí assigned to those teams are deemed to be ‘Community Gardaí’. Like other Garda members they also have dual functions. In addition to their strategic roles in their Community Policing Teams, part of which requires them to regularly update their Community Engagement Superintendent on the policing needs of their community, and they are also frontline members.
However, it is important to note that Community Policing Teams draw on all frontline Gardaí to carry out community policing. Therefore, just because a Garda may not specifically be deemed a 'Community Garda' by virtue of the fact that they are not assigned to a Community Policing Team, that does not mean that they do not carry out crucial work in that area.
Given the organisational and structural changes outlined above which are a natural consequence of the introduction of the new Garda Operating Model, the provision of number of ‘Community Gardaí’ no longer gives an accurate picture of the number of Gardaí carrying out what was traditionally understood to be the role of the ‘Community Garda’.
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 and stationing of Garda members throughout the State. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.
I am however assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review to ensure their optimal use.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that at the end of December 2023, the latest date for when figures are available, there were 699 Garda members assigned to Cork City Division. This represents an increase of over 8% since the end of December 2016.
I am further advised that the table below sets out the number of Community Gardaí assigned to Cork City Division at the end of December 2019 up to the end of December 2023.
|
Community Gardaí - Cork City |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
Dec-23 |
|
Anglesea Street |
5 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
5 |
|
Blackrock |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Bridewell |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
|
Mayfield |
3 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
Watercourse Road |
4 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
5 |
|
Glanmire |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Togher |
3 |
4 |
6 |
3 |
4 |
|
Bishopstown |
1 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
|
Douglas |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Carraigaline |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Ballincollig |
1 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
|
Blarney |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Gurranbraher |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Total |
32 |
38 |
40 |
36 |
36 |
* The above information is based upon operational data which has been provided by An Garda Síochána and may be subject to change.
