Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The distribution of Garda personnel, including the allocation of newly attested gardaí, is the statutory responsibility of the Garda Commissioner. Notwithstanding this, I have provided in tabular form the detailed information requested by the Deputy. He will be aware from the replies to his previous questions that we are anxious to ensure the acting Commissioner will be able to provide additional resources across all divisions, including Kilkenny and Carlow, as new Garda recruits come on stream.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

I am informed by the acting Garda Commissioner that, as of 28 February, the latest date for which figures are available, the strength of the Kilkenny-Carlow division was 327. When appropriate, the work of local gardaí is supported by a number of Garda national units such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the armed support units, the National Economic Crime Bureau and the National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.

The Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance for citizens and deter crime. To make this a reality for all, the Government has in place a plan for an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021, including 15,000 Garda members. Real, tangible progress has been made towards this goal. Garda numbers, taking account of projected retirements, increased to 13,551 at the end of 2017, a net increase of over 600 since the end of 2016.

The Deputy will be aware that in 2010 a previous Government closed the Garda College and imposed a moratorium. These measures imposed a negative impact on Garda numbers across all divisions and the legacy of these decisions continues to have consequences for policing. When it had brought about an early exit from the bailout and stabilised the public finances, the then Government reopened the college in September 2014. Just under 1,800 recruits have since attested as members of An Garda Síochána and are performing mainstream duties nationwide, 53 of whom have been assigned to the Kilkenny-Carlow division.

I am pleased that funding is in place to maintain this high level of investment in the Garda workforce. This year a further 800 new Garda recruits will enter the Garda College. In total, 800 Garda trainees are scheduled to attest during the year, 200 of whom attested last month. Furthermore, Garda numbers, taking account of projected retirements, are on track to reach 14,000 by the end of 2018.

This focus on investment in personnel is critical. We are rebuilding the organisation and providing the acting Commissioner with the resources needed to deploy increasing numbers of gardaí. Undoubtedly, the ongoing recruitment process will support all Garda activities, enhance visibility within communities and enable the acting Commissioner to provide additional resources across every Garda division, including Kilkenny-Carlow, as new Garda recruits continue to come on stream.

Probationer Garda Allocations 2015 – 2018*
DIVISION	STATION	2015	2016	2017	2018	TOTAL
KILKENNY / CARLOW	KILKENNY	5	5	19	4	33
	CARLOW	4	5	11	0	20
TOTAL		9	10	30	4	53

*To date in 2018

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