James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this important question around enhancing policing in rural communities. I echo the words of the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and extend my best wishes to the victims and families of the recent horrific attacks. I hope that those responsible are brought to justice and made accountable for their actions.

A key pillar of Programme for Government: Our Shared Future is building stronger and safer communities. Prioritising visible policing in rural and urban communities will ensure community policing is at the forefront of our police service and an integral strand of our social contract with the public. I am conscious of the impact that serious crime can have on rural communities. I assure the Deputy that I am committed to ensuring there is strong, visible community policing across rural Ireland. That is why we have increased the funding allocated to An Garda Síochána year on year, with an unprecedented figure of more than €2 billion provided for in budget 2022. This funding will allow for recruitment of up to 800 new Garda members and an additional 400 new staff.

As of 31 January, there were 14,354 members of An Garda Síochána, an increase of 12% since the end of 2015. This year's recruitment will bring us close to the Government's target of 15,000 sworn Garda members. While I acknowledge there have been unavoidable decreases in certain areas as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the consistent increases in Garda numbers in recent years have led to a sustained strengthening of Garda presence on the ground in rural and urban areas across Ireland.

In addition to new recruits, the roll-out of the new Garda operating model will support the redeployment of gardaí from non-core duties to front-line policing across the country. The new model will see larger divisions with more resources, increased Garda visibility in communities, a wider range of locally delivered policing services and a strong focus on community policing.

As of 31 December 2021, 844 Garda members have been released from posts not requiring Garda powers or expertise and their duties reassigned to Garda staff. This has in turn facilitated the redeployment of Garda members to operational duties. The civilianisation and redeployment process will continue this year and the Commissioner has indicated a target of an additional 170 redeployments for 2022.

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