Thomas Gould
Ceist:41. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice the number of community gardaí in Cork currently; the number considered a complete cohort; and the plans she has to resolve this. [60535/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 6 December 2022
Ceisteanna (41)
Freagraí scríofa
An Garda Síochána takes pride in being a community police service, with strong links to the communities it serves built on a culture of policing by consent.
The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the general management and administration of the Garda organisation, including decisions on the deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no role in these matters.
I am however assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review 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. I am further advised that there are no set requirements to have a specific number of Community Gardaí posts across each Divisions.
I can inform the Deputy that as of 31 October 2022, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 49 Gardaí assigned to Community policing in Cork, which consists of 38 members assigned to Cork City Division, 7 assigned to Cork North Division and 4 assigned to Cork West Division.
This is an increase of 40% compared to the 35 members assigned to Community Policing in Cork in 2015.
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. Community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána and 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.