Garda Strength

Wednesday, 29 November 2017

Ceisteanna (175)

Joan Burton

Ceist:

175. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí in each Garda division on 31 October 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50724/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions 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. I am informed by the Commissioner that in regard to the deployment of Garda personnel, a distribution model is used which takes into account all relevant factors including population, crime trends and the policing needs of each individual Garda Division. It is the responsibility of the Divisional Officer to allocate personnel within his/her Division.

This Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and to deter crime. The substantial increase in Garda numbers is tangible progress on achieving this Government’s vision of an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Reserve members and 4,000 civilians.

I am informed by the Commissioner that on 31 October 2017, the latest date for which figures are currently available, the strength of An Garda Síochána was 13,378 members.

I am further informed by the Commissioner that since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, close to 1,400 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide. In addition, another 200 trainee Garda are scheduled to attest next month which will see Garda numbers, taking account of projected retirements, increase to around the 13,500 mark by year end - increase of 500 since the end of 2016.

I am pleased to say that Budget 2018 will support the continuation of this high level of investment in the Garda workforce and ensure that the vision of an overall workforce of 21,000 by 2021 remains on track. A further 800 new Garda Recruits will enter the Garda College, an additional 500 civilians will also be recruited to fill critical skills gaps across the organisation and to facilitate the redeployment of Gardaí from administrative and technical duties to front-line operational duties. There are plans to strengthen the Garda Reserve with new Reserves expected to commence training early in 2018.

This focus on investment in personnel is critical. The moratorium on recruitment introduced in 2010 resulted in a significant reduction in the strength of An Garda Síochána. We are now rebuilding the organisation and providing the Commissioner with the resources needed to deploy increasing numbers of Gardaí across every Garda Division in the coming years.

The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the strength of An Garda Síochána by Division, as of the 31 October 2017, that latest date for which figures are currently available is as set out in the table, as supplied by the Commissioner.

Garda Strength by Division 31 October 2017

Division	Total
D.M.R. EAST	376
D.M.R. NORTH	663
D.M.R. NORTH CENTRAL	605
D.M.R. SOUTH	530
D.M.R. SOUTH CENTRAL	618
D.M.R. WEST	665
KILDARE	354
LAOIS / OFFALY	334
MEATH	304
WESTMEATH	266
WICKLOW	301
CAVAN / MONAGHAN	324
DONEGAL	384
LOUTH	312
SLIGO / LEITRIM	299
KILKENNY/CARLOW	324
TIPPERARY	376
WATERFORD	292
WEXFORD	284
CORK CITY	662
CORK NORTH	317
CORK WEST	317
KERRY	291
LIMERICK	555
CLARE	305
GALWAY	579
MAYO	318
ROSCOMMON / LONGFORD	309

Question No. 176 answered with Question No. 174.

Question No. 177 answered with Question No. 173.