Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

323. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda personnel in the Limerick Garda Síochána Division in each of the years 2011 to 2015 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41521/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel, among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review taking into account crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources.

I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the numbers of Garda personnel in the Limerick Garda Division on 31 December 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and on 30 September 2015, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was as set out in the table below

Since the Garda College reopened in September 2014, there have been six intakes of Garda Trainees, giving a total intake of 550. So far 295 of the new Garda Trainees have attested as members of An Garda Síochána. On attestation, new Probationer Gardaí are assigned to Garda stations throughout the country by the Garda Commissioner, where they are assigned to mainstream uniform policing duties. I am assured by Garda management that the needs of all Garda Divisions are fully considered when determining the allocation of newly attested Gardaí. I have been informed that 9 of these newly attested Gardaí have been assigned to the Limerick Division.

The increased budget allocation for An Garda Síochána in 2016 provides for the recruitment of 600 new Gardaí in addition to the 550 that will be recruited by year end. The ongoing recruitment of new Gardaí is crucial to the renewal of An Garda Síochána and for the safety of communities throughout the State. This ramped-up recruitment underscores the determination of this Government to deliver an effective, responsive police service to protect our communities and respond to emerging crime trends. The recruitment campaign for 2016 will be advertised very shortly.