Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 April 2016
210. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will increase the number of gardaí in the mid-Louth Ardee district (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7331/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and Districts and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources.
Ardee District forms part of the Louth Division. I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that on the 29 February 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available, there were 285 members assigned to this Division. On the same date, there were 35 members and 9 Garda Reserves assigned to Ardee Garda District. The District includes Castlebellingham, Collon and Louth Garda Stations.
I am further informed that the work of local Gardaí in the Louth Division is augmented by a number of Garda national units which are assisting with covert and overt operations targeting prolific criminals and dissidents who reside within and outside this jurisdiction. Furthermore there is ongoing liaison between An Garda Síochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland under the auspices of an agreed Cross-Border Policing Strategy to continue the excellent levels of cooperation between both police services in addressing crime and terrorist activities in all its manifestations.
As the Deputy will appreciate it is vital that An Garda Síochána is renewed in order to ensure that it has the capacity to provide effective and visible policing throughout the country. With this objective in mind, there have been seven intakes of Garda Trainees to the Garda College since it was reopened in September 2014 giving a total intake of 700. A further 450 will be taken in this year. So far 395 of the new Garda Trainees have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream uniform duties in communities nationwide. The Garda Commissioner has informed me that 18 of these newly attested members have been assigned to the Louth Division. It is expected that a further 300 trainee Gardaí will attest this year and it will be a matter for the Garda Commissioner to assign them as she considers appropriate. I am assured that the needs of all Garda Divisions are fully considered when determining the allocation of newly attested Gardaí.
