Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 July 2016
126. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí based in Finglas Garda station; the number of Garda vehicles available to them during each of the past six years; and the most up-to-date figures for same. [22508/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra127. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí based in Santry Garda station; the number of Garda vehicles available to them during each of the past six years; and the most up-to-date figures for same. [22509/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra128. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí based in Ballymun Garda station; the number of Garda vehicles available to them during each of the past six years; and the most up-to-date figures for same. [22510/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra129. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí assigned to K District of DMR west division of An Garda Síochána, Dublin; the number of Garda vehicles available to them during each of the past six years; and the most up-to-date figures for same. [22511/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra130. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí assigned to H District of DMR north division of An Garda Síochána, Dublin; the number of Garda vehicles available to them during each of the past six years; and the most up-to-date figures for same. [22512/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 126 to 130, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and Districts. 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. The specific information on the number of Gardaí in the Ballymun ("H") District, which includes Santry and Ballymun Garda stations, and the Blanchardstown ("K") District, which includes Finglas Garda station, on the 31 May 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available, is as set out in the table below.
As the Deputy will be aware, when the financial crisis hit, the Government of the time introduced a moratorium on recruitment and the four year National Recovery Plan, published in 2010, envisaged a steady reduction in Garda numbers. Thankfully, in a recovering economy, we were able to reopen the Garda College in September 2014, and a total of 851 Garda trainees have been recruited with a further 300 planned to be recruited during the remainder of this year. So far 534 of the new Garda trainees have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream uniform duties nationwide with another 150 more planned to attest in November.
The Programme for Government, "A Programme for a Partnership Government" commits to continuing the ongoing accelerated Garda recruitment programme with a view to increasing Garda numbers to 15,000. Taking account of projected retirements, the current rate of recruitment will bring Garda numbers to around the 13,000 mark this year. We must, I believe, endeavour to make more rapid progress than this to reach our target of 15,000 and I am engaging with my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, in relation to increasing the planned annual intake this year and in coming years.
In relation to the number of Garda vehicles available in the Ballymun ("H") and Blanchardstown ("K") Districts during each of the past six years and the most up to date figures for same, I have requested these details from the Garda Commissioner and will forward them to the Deputy on receipt.
GARDA DISTRIBUTION IN "H" & "K" DISTRICTS 31 MAY 2016
|
DISTRICT |
STATION |
TOTAL |
|
BALLYMUN "H" |
BALLYMUN |
121 |
|
DUBLIN AIRPORT |
20 |
|
|
SANTRY |
82 |
|
|
BALLYMUN Total |
223 |
|
|
BLANCHARDSTOWN "K" |
BLANCHARDSTOWN |
150 |
|
CABRA |
65 |
|
|
FINGLAS |
103 |
|
|
BLANCHARDSTOWN Total |
318 |
