Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 September 2020
657. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí stationed in Cabra Garda station in August in each of the years 2010 to 2019 and to date in 2020; the opening times of this station for these years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24980/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra658. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice if there are plans to open the Cabra Garda station on a full-time basis [24981/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra659. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice the number of Garda cars based in Cabra Garda station; the area which they cover; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24982/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra660. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice the current allocation of gardaí for the area covered by Cabra Garda station; and if she will address the need for additional resources for this area. [24983/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra661. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice the Garda presence available in Cabra after the Cabra Garda station closes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24984/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 657 to 661, inclusive, together.
The Deputy will be aware that the 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 role in decisions on such matters. I am assured, however, 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.
The resources provided by Government to An Garda Síochána have reached unprecedented levels, with an allocation for 2020 of €1.88 billion. The resources provided have increased by some €330 million since 2016, a 21% increase. This level of investment is enabling sustained, ongoing recruitment of Garda members and staff and as a result, An Garda Síochána is a growing organisation. There are now almost 14,700 Gardaí nationwide, supported by over 3,000 Garda staff and these numbers are continuing to grow. Taken together, this increase in the number of Garda members and staff is delivering a significant growth in operational policing hours nationwide.
The Deputy will be aware that Cabra Garda station is located within the Blanchardstown District within the DMR West Division. The station is currently open between 07.00 hours and 21.00 hours. I am advised that there are currently no plans in place to open Cabra Garda station on a full-time basis. However, I am assured that during the period of closure, the station maintains a Garda presence for security purposes and continues to provide a service to the Cabra Community, in the form of foot patrols, mountain bike patrols and mobile patrols – both in uniform and plain clothes. The table below shows the operating hours of Cabra Garda station for the years in question.
|
-Year |
Opening Hours |
|
2010 - 2011 |
24 Hours |
|
2012 - 2020 |
7am – 9pm, 7 days a week |
The table below, furnished to me by the Garda authorities, shows the breakdown of Garda members by rank since 2010.
|
Year |
Division |
Station |
A/C |
C/Supt |
Supt |
Sergt |
Insp |
Garda |
Total |
|
2010 |
DMR West |
Cabra |
1 |
5 |
13 |
80 |
99 |
||
|
2011 |
DMR West |
Cabra |
8 |
61 |
69 |
||||
|
2012 |
DMR West |
Cabra |
10 |
76 |
86 |
||||
|
2013 |
DMR West |
Cabra |
10 |
1 |
69 |
80 |
|||
|
2014 |
DMR West |
Cabra |
8 |
1 |
68 |
77 |
|||
|
2015 |
DMR West |
Cabra |
7 |
1 |
60 |
68 |
|||
|
2016 |
DMR West |
Cabra |
4 |
3 |
54 |
61 |
|||
|
2017 |
DMR West |
Cabra |
4 |
2 |
52 |
58 |
|||
|
2018 |
DMR West |
Cabra |
7 |
1 |
49 |
57 |
|||
|
2019 |
DMR West |
Cabra |
8 |
54 |
62 |
||||
|
2020 |
DMR West |
Cabra |
8 |
54 |
62 |
A detailed breakdown of Garda numbers by Division, District and Station is available on my Department’s website, in the interests of transparency and for the convenience of Deputies and the wider public. This information is updated every month with the latest data provided by An Garda Síochána. The Information on Garda members may be accessed at the following link:
http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/002_Garda_Numbers_by_Division_District_and_Station_2009_to_August_2020.xlsx/Files/002_Garda_Numbers_by_Division_District_and_Station_2009_to_August_2020.xlsx
Wider information on the Garda workforce, including Garda staff, is available at the following link: http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/Garda_Workforce
The Deputy also sought details in relation to the Garda fleet for Cabra Garda station. I hope the Deputy will appreciate, for security reasons, An Garda Síochána do not provide vehicle allocations by Garda station, however, the following table, conveyed to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the vehicles attached to DMR West Division and Blanchardstown District as at 31 August 2020.
|
Cars |
Vans |
Bikes |
4 x4 |
*Others |
Total |
|
|
Blanchardstown (K) DISTRICT |
39 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
47 |
|
DMR West DIVISION |
79 |
14 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
99 |
*The category 'Others' refers to MPV, SUV, Minibus or Prisoner Conveyance Vehicles .
