James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The distribution of gardaí is a matter for Garda senior management. I hope the 800 additional members of the Garda funded through this year’s budget will mean additional resources right across the country. In fact, I have no doubt about this. There will be an estimated 14,600 fully attested members of An Garda Síochána and 600 in training, putting us on course to meet our target of 15,000 sworn members of An Garda Síochána throughout this country. That will be important. I cannot provide the detail the Deputy is seeking on individual cases and on whether particular gardaí are out sick or deskbound. Perhaps there are general data protection regulation, GDPR, difficulties associated with gaining access to that type of information. I have no doubt, however, that the Garda Commissioner will keep all areas under consideration in respect of the support they need. I have no doubt that the Garda Commissioner accounts for every set of circumstances, particularly availability for operational duties, when considering the distribution of gardaí right across the country.

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