Martin Kenny
Ceist:104. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice the number of community gardaí by county in each of the years between 2016 and 2022 in tabular form. [61140/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 7 December 2022
Ceisteanna (104)
Freagraí scríofa
The 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 planned recruitment of up to 1,000 new Garda recruits as well as over 400 Garda staff.
While the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the general management and administration of the Garda organisation, I am 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 the Divisions.
The table below, which has been provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of Community Gardaí by Division at end December 2016 up to end December 2021 and at 31 October 2022, the latest date for which figures are available.
|
Community Gardaí by Division |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
31 Oct 2022 |
|
D.M.R. EAST |
32 |
34 |
28 |
25 |
21 |
24 |
29 |
|
D.M.R. NORTH |
53 |
47 |
51 |
39 |
26 |
61 |
63 |
|
D.M.R. NORTH CENTRAL |
110 |
90 |
83 |
75 |
71 |
66 |
56 |
|
D.M.R. SOUTH |
39 |
40 |
42 |
48 |
53 |
58 |
51 |
|
D.M.R. SOUTH CENTRAL |
34 |
30 |
28 |
48 |
57 |
54 |
44 |
|
D.M.R. WEST |
53 |
64 |
63 |
66 |
86 |
66 |
64 |
|
KILDARE |
0 |
4 |
4 |
7 |
9 |
9 |
10 |
|
LAOIS / OFFALY |
2 |
2 |
8 |
8 |
13 |
13 |
11 |
|
MEATH |
9 |
7 |
9 |
6 |
9 |
8 |
6 |
|
WESTMEATH |
10 |
8 |
10 |
11 |
7 |
7 |
13 |
|
WICKLOW |
14 |
14 |
13 |
11 |
10 |
9 |
5 |
|
CAVAN / MONAGHAN |
4 |
2 |
0 |
4 |
5 |
16 |
16 |
|
DONEGAL |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
15 |
17 |
64 |
|
LOUTH |
15 |
12 |
13 |
11 |
15 |
13 |
23 |
|
SLIGO / LEITRIM |
8 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
|
KILKENNY/CARLOW |
88 |
85 |
112 |
99 |
94 |
99 |
96 |
|
TIPPERARY |
71 |
68 |
72 |
79 |
72 |
73 |
9 |
|
WATERFORD |
44 |
35 |
35 |
15 |
26 |
22 |
22 |
|
WEXFORD |
8 |
7 |
6 |
12 |
11 |
11 |
16 |
|
CORK CITY |
26 |
27 |
24 |
32 |
38 |
40 |
38 |
|
CORK NORTH |
8 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
|
CORK WEST |
5 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
|
KERRY |
7 |
9 |
9 |
10 |
9 |
10 |
10 |
|
LIMERICK |
42 |
38 |
31 |
30 |
31 |
33 |
33 |
|
CLARE |
7 |
8 |
8 |
7 |
9 |
9 |
10 |
|
GALWAY |
14 |
14 |
13 |
13 |
19 |
22 |
24 |
|
MAYO |
3 |
3 |
1 |
13 |
12 |
12 |
11 |
|
ROSCOMMON / LONGFORD |
10 |
10 |
11 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
10 |
|
TOTAL |
718 |
676 |
695 |
702 |
751 |
784 |
755 |
*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.