Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 March 2019
216. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí transferred out of County Tipperary in each of the years 2014 to 2018 under headings (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10267/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
I am informed by the Commissioner that the deployment of Garda personnel is continually monitored and reviewed in the context of crime trends and policing priorities to ensure the optimum use of Garda resources. A dynamic distribution model of resource allocation, known as the Cohort model, has been in use by Garda management since 2015 for the allocation of personnel, including newly attested probationer Gardaí from the Garda College. The allocation and transfer of Garda Personnel using the Cohort Model is determined by a number of factors, including crime and non-crime workload, minimum establishment, population, area, policing arrangements and operational strategies. When allocations are taking place, comprehensive consultation is carried out with local management during which all factors are taken into consideration.
I am advised by the Commissioner that it is not possible to provide the information requested for the number of Gardaí that have transferred out of the Tipperary Division on promotion, to a specialist unit or without replacement. Whilst there is a policy not to transfer a Garda from a Division without provision of a replacement, in order to deliver an effective policing service, it is essential that Garda management has the flexibility to deploy Garda resources to meet operational policing needs taking account of the Cohort model of resource allocation.
