Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 November 2020
339. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí by rank attached to the traffic corps unit in DMR north in each of the years 2009 to 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form. [39516/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters and deployment of resources. As Minister, I have no responsibility for these 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.
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.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the tables below show the number of Gardaí attached to DMR North Traffic corps unit from 31/12/2009 to 31/10/2020:
|
Inspectors |
Sergeants |
Garda |
Total |
|
|
31/12/2009 |
1 |
3 |
23 |
27 |
|
31/12/2010 |
1 |
2 |
19 |
22 |
|
31/12/2011 |
1 |
2 |
18 |
21 |
|
31/12/2012 |
1 |
0 |
17 |
18 |
|
31/12/2013 |
1 |
1 |
16 |
18 |
|
31/12/2014 |
1 |
1 |
15 |
17 |
|
31/12/2015 |
0 |
2 |
15 |
17 |
|
31/12/2016 |
0 |
1 |
12 |
13 |
|
31/12/2017 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
14 |
|
31/12/2018 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
14 |
|
31/12/2019 |
0 |
3 |
15 |
18 |
|
31/10/2020 |
0 |
3 |
14 |
17 |
I am advised that a range of factors are taken into account by Garda management when considering the allocation of resources including commitments and undertakings outlined in the Annual Policing Plan and priorities as determined in delivering ‘A Policing Service for The Future’. Also taken into account are local and national crime trends and workloads; policing arrangements and operational strategies; minimum establishment statistics; local population and trends, geographical area and size; transfer applications, including welfare / personnel issues and concerns.
To ensure the continued high level of delivery of policing services within Garda Divisions, local and Senior Garda Management are also consulted during the allocation of personnel and are responsible for the specific deployment / assignment of duties being undertaken at Divisional level. The situation remains closely monitored by the Garda Senior Leadership Team, particularly in view of commitments to the continued roll-out of the Operating Model of policing at Divisional level to ensure optimum use of all Garda Resources in providing the best possible Garda service to the community.
The Deputy may wish to know that detailed information in relation to Garda numbers 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_August_2020.xlsx/Files/002_Garda_Numbers_by_Division_District_and_Station_2009_to_August_2020.xlsx
Figures for Roads Policing Unit by Division from 2009 to present is outlined in the below link:
http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/Roads_Policing_Unit
