I propose to take Questions Nos. 655 and 656 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, which includes decisions on the deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no role in these matters.
For the Deputy's information the attached spreadsheet, which was provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of Gardaí assigned to Cavan/Monagan Division at end December 2017 up to end December 2021, and at 31 May 2022 the latest date for when figures are available. At the end of May 2022, there were 385 Gardaí assigned to this division, which was an increase of 56 Gardaí (or 17%) on the number assigned to this division at the end of 2017.
I hope the Deputy will appreciate that, for sound operational and security reasons, An Garda Síochána does not provide information on specialist units by Garda Division.
However, the tables below which have been provided to me by the Garda authorities set out the number of Gardaí assigned to the Cavan/ Monaghan Divisional Drugs Unit and Roads Policing duties at end December 2017 up to end December 2021, and at 31 May 2022, the latest date for when figures are available.
CAVAN / MONAGHAN - ROADS POLICING
|
2017
|
2018
|
2019
|
2020
|
2021
|
31/05/2022
|
Total Gardaí assigned
|
18
|
26
|
22
|
18
|
18
|
16
|
CAVAN / MONAGHAN - DIVISIONAL DRUGS UNIT
|
2017
|
2018
|
2019
|
2020
|
2021
|
31/05/ 2022
|
Total Gardaí assigned
|
5
|
4
|
6
|
4
|
3
|
3
|
The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, with the unprecedented allocation provided in Budget 2022 of over €2 billion.
I understand that it is a matter for the Divisional Chief Superintendent to determine the optimum distribution of duties among the personnel available to them, having regard to the profile of each area within the Division and its specific needs.
In the interests of transparency, further detailed information in relation to Garda numbers can be found on my Department’s website. This information is updated every month with the latest data provided by An Garda Síochána, and includes the number of Gardaí by station across the whole country.
The information can be found at the following link:
www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/An_Garda_Siochana_facts_and_figures