Garda Resources

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 June 2019

Wednesday, 26 June 2019

Ceisteanna (59)

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

59. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if extra funding is being made available for Garda resources in the Cavan-Monaghan division in 2019 and 2020; if extra gardaí have been allocated; the details by district in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26669/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

The resources provided by Government to An Garda Síochána have reached unprecedented levels, with an allocation for 2019 of €1.76 billion. Very significant capital investment is also being made in Garda ICT, the Garda fleet and the Garda estate - in total, the Garda capital allocation has increased from €61 million to €92 million in 2019, which represents a 50% increase.

In accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling the administration and business of An Garda Síochána. It is a matter for the Commissioner to efficiently manage the significant resources which have been provided and to determine the allocation of budgets to all regions, including the Northern Region and all Divisions, including Cavan/ Monaghan Division, based upon operational requirements.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the table below sets out the vehicles attached to the Cavan/Monaghan Division, broken down by District, as of 20 June 2019.

CAVAN/MONAGHAN DIVISION	Cars	Vans	Motorbikes	4 x 4	*Others	Total
BAILIEBORO DISTRICT	9	2	0	0	0	11
CARRICKMACROSS DISTRICT	7	2	0	1	0	10
CAVAN DISTRICT	14	4	1	0	1	20
MONAGHAN DISTRICT	8	6	1	0	2	17
TOTAL VECHICLES IN DIVISION	38	14	2	1	3	58

*The category 'others' refers to MPV, SUV, Minibus or Prisoner Conveyance Vehicles

With regard to the fleet, the Deputy may further wish to be aware that a total of €10 million has been made available for the purchase and fit-out of Garda vehicles in 2019. I understand from the Garda authorities that this allocation will be used for purchase and fit-out of over 300 new vehicles for operational use this year.

I am further informed by Garda management that the Garda strength of the Cavan/Monaghan Division on 31 May 2019 (the latest date for which figures are readily available) was 365. There are also 8 Garda Reserves and 42 Garda Staff attached to the Division.

Since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, almost 2,800 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide. Of this total, 100 have been assigned to the Cavan/Monaghan Division, with 10 assigned from the last allocation on 7 June 2019.

This and ongoing recruitment will clearly provide significant additional policing hours throughout the country, both in terms of the increase in new Gardaí and the redeployment of Gardaí to frontline policing duties due to civilianisation of their current roles. I believe that the injection of this large number of experienced officers into the field, along with the new recruits, will be greatly beneficial in terms of protecting communities and will provide the Commissioner with the resources needed to deploy increasing numbers of Gardaí to deliver a visible effective and responsive policing service to communities across all Garda Divisions, including Cavan/Monaghan Division.

For the Deputy’s information, the attached spread-sheet supplied by the Garda authorities sets out the breakdown by Division of the total number of Gardaí assigned to the Cavan/Monaghan Division as on 31 May 2019, the latest date for which figures are currently available.

Cavan/Monaghan

Division	District	Station	GD	SG	IN	SU	CS	AC	Total
CAVAN/MONAGHAN	BAILIEBORO	BAILIEBORO			1	2	6	39	48
		BALLYJAMESDUFF					1	3	4
		COOTEHILL						6	6
		KINGSCOURT					1	2	3
		MULLAGH						2	2
		SHERCOCK						1	1
		VIRGINIA					1	5	6
		TOTAL			1	2	9	58	70
	CARRICKMACROSS	BALLYBAY					1	2	3
		CARRICKMACROSS			1	1	8	40	50
		CASTLEBLANEY					5	25	30
		ROCKCORRY						1	1
		TOTAL			1	1	14	68	84
	CAVAN	ARVA					1	2	3
		BALLINAGH						1	1
		BALLYCONNELL					4	15	19
		BELTURBET					1	4	5
		BLACKLION						3	3
		CAVAN			1	3	8	60	72
		DOWRA						2	2
		KILLESHANDRA						1	1
		KILNALECK						4	4
		SWANLINBAR						1	1
		TOTAL			1	3	14	93	111
	MONAGHAN	CLONES					1	4	5
		EMYVALE					1	2	3
		MONAGHAN		1	2	4	12	71	90
		SCOTSTOWN						2	2
		TOTAL		1	2	4	14	79	100
CAVAN/ MONAGHAN          Total				1	5	10	51	298	365

The number of newly attested Gardaí allocated t the Cavan/Monaghan Division since the recommencement of recruitment to date

Cavan/Monaghan	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	Total
CAVAN	5	7	10	4	6	32
MONAGHAN	5	0	8	12	5	30
CARRICKMACROSS	0	0	5	13	8	26
BAILIEBORO	0	0	0	6	6	12