Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 June 2020
399. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí by rank attached to the public order unit in the DMR northern region in each of the years 2009 to 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form. [9406/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters and deployment of resources. As Minister, I have no responsibility for these matters.
The resources provided to An Garda Síochána have reached unprecedented levels, with an allocation for 2020 of €1.88 billion. This level of funding is enabling sustained, ongoing recruitment of Garda members and staff and as a result, An Garda Síochána is a growing organisation. There are now over 14,700 Gardaí nationwide, supported by over 3,000 Garda staff and these numbers are continuing to grow.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that there has never been a permanent full-time Public Order Unit attached to the DMR North Division. However I am further informed however that there is a full-time Public Order Unit in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) which is a regional resource for the DMR as a whole, comprising of 4 Inspectors, 12 Sergeants and 84 Gardaí. I understand that these members are available to respond to appropriate calls throughout the DMR. I am further informed that the Unit remains subject to ongoing review and consideration by Garda management, in light of operational demand and the Covid-19 pandemic. Operational support remains available in all regions from the National Public Order Unit, when the need arises.
More broadly, I am advised that Gardaí continue to tackle incidents of public order, anti-social behaviour and the escalation of crime, by engaging with communities to reduce this type of behaviour. In the location referred to by the Deputy, I understand that Gardaí engage in a range of partnership approaches to address local concerns including holding clinics on a regular basis.
Finally, I am assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use.
