James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Tully for this very important question on the number of gardaí in the Cavan-Monaghan division. The Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána has all the necessary resources it needs to deliver a very modern, fit-for-purpose, policing service. Budget 2023 provided funding of €2.14 billion for An Garda Síochána. In total since 2016, the budget for An Garda Síochána has increased by approximately €586 million, or 38%. This increased level of investment by Government has enabled sustained and ongoing investment in recruitment, in technology and in equipment. Budget 2023 will support the planned recruitment of up to 1,000 new Garda members and 400 new Garda staff. These Garda staff members will free up An Garda Síochána members from administrative duties and place them back onto the front line.

As the Deputy will be aware, by law the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration of An Garda Síochána, including the distribution of Garda members between the various divisions. As Ministers, we have no role in those matters. I am, however, assured that the Commissioner and his management team keep the distribution of resources under constant review in light of local policing needs and crime trends.

I can advise the Deputy that 318 gardaí were assigned to the Cavan-Monaghan division in 2016, and this has increased by 60 to 378 members as of 31 March this year. I can further advise the Deputy that the number of Garda staff assigned to the division has also increased substantially, from 38 to 58, in the same period. These numbers represent very significant increases of almost 19% and 50%, respectively.

It should be noted that, since 2015, civilianisation of staff has freed almost 900 Garda members from back-office duties nationwide to return to the front-line policing for which they have been highly trained. I can also assure the Deputy that, while the Commissioner is operationally responsible, this Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to deliver a modern, fit-for-purpose, policing service. As I said, budget 2023 provides funding of €2.14 billion.

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