Bernard Durkan
Ceist:149. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí available for duty in the past six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48165/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 20 November 2019
Ceisteanna (149)
Freagraí scríofa
As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is statutorily responsible for the management of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters, and I, as Minister, do not have responsibility for this matter.
A record €1.76 billion was allocated to the Garda Vote for 2019, as well as capital investment amounting to €92 million this year. I am pleased to have secured an overall increase of €122 million to increase An Garda Síochána's budget for 2020 to an unprecedented €1.882 billion for next year.
This investment is supporting the sustained growth of the organisation. We currently have approximately 14,200 Gardaí nationwide, supported by over 2,900 Garda staff.
And as part of the Government’s plan to achieve an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021, there is ongoing and increased recruitment both of new Gardaí as well as Garda staff, allowing for redeployment of Gardaí to operational duties at the front-line.
Since the reopening of the Garda Training College in 2014, approximately 2,800 new Garda members have attested and been assigned to frontline policing duties in communities throughout the country. Another 200 probationer Gardaí are due to attest next week.
Further, the Garda Commissioner’s decision to recruit a net 600 Garda staff in 2019 will allow for the redeployment of approximately 500 experienced Gardaí to frontline and visible policing duties by the end of this year. The funding provided in Budget 2020 will also allow for the recruitment of up to 700 new Gardaí and additional Garda staff, the balance of which will be for the Commissioner to decide based on operational needs.
The information requested by the Deputy is available on my Department's website at
http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/Garda_Workforce
For more general information on Garda facts and figures, the Deputy may also wish to see the information on the link below:
http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/An_Garda_Siochana_facts_and_figures