Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 November 2020
748. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Justice the staffing levels in Ballymun Garda station in each of the years 2006 to 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38747/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is, by law, responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters and deployment of resources. The allocation of Garda resources is made in light of identified operational demand. This includes deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no direct role in the matter.
I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of policing priorities and crime trends, to ensure their optimum use. I understand that it is a matter for the Divisional Chief Superintendent to determine the optimum distribution of duties among the personnel available to him or her, having regard to the profile of each area within the Division and its specific needs.
An Garda Síochána has been allocated an unprecedented budget of €1.952 billion for 2021. This level of funding is enabling sustained, ongoing recruitment of Garda members and staff. As a result, Garda numbers are now some 14,600 Garda members and over 3,000 Garda staff nationwide. Budget 2021 will allow for the recruitment of up to 620 new Gardaí and an extra 500 Garda staff.
The information requested in relation to Garda members assigned to Ballymun Garda station for the years 2006 up to and including 2008 is unavailable in the format requested. However, as the Deputy is aware, Ballymun Garda station is located within DMR North Division. At the 31 October 2020 there were 788 Garda members attached to the DMR North Division which represents an increase of over 23% since 2006. Garda members in the Division are supported by 59 Garda staff members of which 16 Garda staff members are assigned to Ballymun Garda station.
For the Deputy's information, the table below sets out the number of Gardaí assigned to the Ballymun Garda Station as at 31 December for each year from 2009 to 2019 and as at 31 October 2020.
|
Year |
Total staffing at Ballymun Garda Station (statistics as at 31 December) |
|
2009 |
130 |
|
2010 |
128 |
|
2011 |
113 |
|
2012 |
118 |
|
2013 |
118 |
|
2014 |
114 |
|
2015 |
124 |
|
2016 |
117 |
|
2017 |
113 |
|
2018 |
131 |
|
2019 |
139 |
|
2020 (as at 31 October 2020) |
136 |
Detailed information in relation to Garda numbers, including the year end figures for the Division mentioned in each of the years from 2010 to 2019, is available on my Department’s website. This information is updated every month with the latest data provided by An Garda Síochána, at the following link:
http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/002_Garda_Numbers_by_Division_District_and_Station_2009_to_September_2020.xlsx/Files/002_Garda_Numbers_by_Division_District_and_Station_2009_to_September_2020.xlsx
Additional information on Garda staff, the Garda Workforce and other facts and figures are available at the following link: http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/An_Garda_Siochana_facts_and_figures
