asked the Minister for Justice if he will state what is the numerical strength of the Gárda Síochána in the Metropolitan Area (a) Dublin City, and (b) Dublin County; the number selected for patrol duty (a) by day, (b) by night; and the number of hours for each patrol unit; also, the number of Gárdaí assigned to other duties and the nature of such duties.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Strength of Gárda in Dublin.
The answer to this question will be published in the Official Report.
Following is the answer:—
The total numerical strength of the Gárda Síochána in the Dublin Metropolitan Area at present is 1,576, including 11 officers and 1,565 other ranks.
The Dublin Metropolitan Area includes nearly all the County Borough of Dublin, except Howth; nearly all the Borough of Dun Laoghaire and small portions of the County of Dublin. The Gárda force for the area is treated as one unit and it would not be practicable to show separately the numbers of men on duty in the city and county portions of the area.
Of the 1,565 members below the rank of superintendent in the Dublin Metropolitan Area, 238 are assigned to the Detective Branch, and 1,327 are assigned to the uniformed force.
The members of the Detective Branch are responsible for the investigation of serious crime (including political crime), they perform a considerable amount of protection duties, supervise aliens, deal with applications for passports and travel permits and perform immigration inspection at Dublin and Dun Laoghaire.
The allocation of the uniformed force to various duties varies somewhat from day to day, but the following statement shows a typical allocation on a recent date:—
|
Members in charge of stations, station orderlies, etc. |
111 |
|
Clerical duties, telephone, office, stores, messes, etc. |
94 |
|
Duties at courts, serving summonses, collecting fines, enforcing warrants, etc. |
57 |
|
Protection duties (public buildings, etc.) |
195 |
|
Traffic duties (including carriage office) |
45 |
|
Patrol duties (including cycle and motor patrols) |
373* |
|
Criminal investigation |
44 |
|
L.S.F. administration |
13 |
|
Miscellaneous duties |
34 |
|
Sick |
63 |
|
On leave |
213 |
|
On loan to detective branch |
78 |
|
On loan to Commissioner's office |
7 |
|
Total |
1,327 |
Patrols are nearly evenly distributed over the whole 24 hours of each day. The normal period of duty for a member on patrol is eight hours, with a break of one hour for refreshment.
(*This figure includes ten inspectors, nine station-sergeants, 33 sergeants and 321 guards).