Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 October 2022
653. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the total number of community gardaí posts nationally broken down by division; and the total number of such posts currently filled broken down by division. [51502/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, with the unprecedented allocation provided in Budget 2023 of €2.14 billion. This unprecedented amount will fund the recruitment of up to 1,000 new Garda recruits as well as over 400 Garda staff.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the general management and administration of the Garda organisation under the Garda Síochána Act 2005. This includes the deployment of Garda members throughout the State.
I am assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of policing priorities and crime trends, to ensure their optimal use. I understand that it is a matter for the Divisional Chief Superintendent to determine the distribution of duties among the personnel available to them, having regard to the profile of each area within the Division and its specific needs, and that there are no set requirements to have a specific number of Community Gardaí posts across the Divisions.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that at the 31 August 2022, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 768 Community Gardaí. This represents an increase of over 9% since end December 2019 when there were 702 Community Gardaí.
The table below, which has been provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of Community Gardaí by Division at 31 August 2022, the latest date for which figures are available.
|
Community Gardaí by Division |
Total |
|
D.M.R. EAST |
29 |
|
D.M.R. NORTH |
67 |
|
D.M.R. NORTH CENTRAL |
50 |
|
D.M.R. SOUTH |
54 |
|
D.M.R. SOUTH CENTRAL |
46 |
|
D.M.R. WEST |
63 |
|
KILDARE |
9 |
|
LAOIS / OFFALY |
12 |
|
MEATH |
7 |
|
WESTMEATH |
8 |
|
WICKLOW |
6 |
|
CAVAN / MONAGHAN |
15 |
|
DONEGAL |
71 |
|
LOUTH |
24 |
|
SLIGO / LEITRIM |
10 |
|
KILKENNY/CARLOW |
99 |
|
TIPPERARY |
9 |
|
WATERFORD |
25 |
|
WEXFORD |
16 |
|
CORK CITY |
38 |
|
CORK NORTH |
7 |
|
CORK WEST |
4 |
|
KERRY |
10 |
|
LIMERICK |
34 |
|
CLARE |
10 |
|
GALWAY |
24 |
|
MAYO |
11 |
|
ROSCOMMON / LONGFORD |
10 |
|
TOTAL |
768 |
*The above information is based upon operational data which has been provided by An Garda Síochána and may be liable to change.
To date, the official categorisation as a Community Garda has simply referred to those who are exclusively assigned to building relationships with local communities and civil society, including giving talks to schools, community groups and others. It is important to note, however, that community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána and that all Gardaí have a role to play in community policing in the course of carrying out their duties.
Indeed, this is fundamental to the new Garda Operating Model recommended by the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland and currently being rolled out under 'A Policing Service for Our Future', the Government's implementation plan for the Commission's recommendations.
