Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The latest date for which figures are readily available, which is 31 August 2016, indicate that there were 780 community gardaí assigned to Garda divisions throughout the country, 74 of which were assigned to the Tipperary division. It is the case - the Garda Commissioner makes this point continuously - that all gardaí have a role to play in addressing community policing issues as and when the need arises. I support that. It is true that community policing involves far more than a single unit within An Garda Síochána. The Garda Síochána strategic plan for this year sets as a priority the further development of community policing. I agree with the Deputy that this is an issue at the heart of An Garda Síochána in rural and urban areas. It is recognised that every community has its own concerns and that the Garda need to respond in that regard. In terms of the Garda Síochána modernising programme 2016 to 2021 the focus is on supporting and developing the community policing ethos.

In terms of recruitment, the plan is to increase Garda numbers to 15,000 and to double the Garda reserve. Subject to the budget, new civilians will be recruited into An Garda Síochána next year so that we can provide An Garda Síochána with the type of civilian expertise it needs and thus enable the release of gardaí to front-line duties. We are in the process of finalising this process in regard to gardaí engaged in immigration duties at the airport so that they are free to do more focused work. Taking account of the projected requirements, reaching a strength of 15,000 members will require an additional 3,200 new gardaí to be recruited on a phased basis over the next four years, in addition to the 1,200 that have already been taken into the college. The Garda Commissioner will be in a position to ensure that areas such as the Deputy's will have more gardaí in the time ahead as we double the amount of civilians in the system, recruit new gardaí and double the reserve.

See this speech in context