Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. As she will be aware, under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, as amended, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, which encompasses all operational policing matters, including the allocation of resources. The Minister for Justice has no statutory role in regard to these operational policing matters.

I am aware that the Government is committed to supporting a strong and visible police presence throughout the country to detect and prevent crime and provide reassurance to local communities across the country.

To date, the official categorisation of a community garda has simply referred to those who are exclusively assigned to building relationships with local communities and civil society, including through giving talks to schools and community groups. It is important to note, however, that community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána and that all gardaí have a role to play in community policing in the course of carrying out their duties. Indeed, this is fundamental to the new Garda operating model recommended by the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland and currently being rolled out under A Policing Service for Our Future, the Government's implementation plan for the commission's recommendations.

An unprecedented allocation in excess of €2 billion was provided in budget 2022 for An Garda Síochána. It includes funding for the recruitment of up to 800 additional Garda members and 400 Garda staff. Many of the Garda members to be recruited will be drawn from the Garda recruitment competition that opened just last month. I am happy to note on behalf of the Minister that the number of applications received thus far from those interested in a career in An Garda Síochána is high.

I am informed that as of 31 January 2022, the latest date when figures were available, 97 community gardaí were assigned to the Kilkenny-Carlow division. This represents an increase of over 14% since December 2017, when there were 85 community gardaí assigned to the division. This allocation comprises 14 sergeants and 83 gardaí.

While the Deputy will appreciate that the allocation of resources is an operational matter for the Commissioner, I am assured that the situation remains closely monitored by the Garda senior leadership team, particularly in view of commitments to the continued roll-out of the operating model of policing at divisional level to ensure optimum use of all Garda resources in providing the best possible Garda service to the community.

I can reassure the Deputy that the Minister, Deputy McEntee, will continue to engage closely with the Garda Commissioner in regard to all community safety issues in the context of prioritising the delivery of the suite of community safety commitments contained in the programme for Government and the justice plan.

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