Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and, of course, strengthening An Garda Síochána is at the core of that. The best way we can strengthen community policing is by supporting additional recruitment into An Garda Síochána. We will continue to provide An Garda Síochána with the resources it needs to ensure communities around Ireland are safe and that people feel safe. This is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of up to €2.3 billion in budget 2024, which will allow for between 800 and 1,000 more gardaí to be recruited next year.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. I have had many conversations with him and I know that community policing is at the heart of the Garda. Community policing is fundamental to the new Garda operating model, which is being rolled out and is already fully commenced in seven divisions. Mayo-Roscommon-Longford was one of the first divisions in which it was rolled out in September 2022, with the divisional head office and the chief superintendent located in Castlebar. As of 30 September, the latest date for which figures are available, I am advised that the dedicated community policing unit for Mayo comprises two sergeants and seven gardaí. These dedicated community policing units are assisted by Garda members across the community engagement areas, who act as community gardaí as part of their regular duties.

As part of the roll-out of the new Garda operating model, it is envisaged that in some rural areas existing personnel will form the community policing teams, CPTs. It is important to recognise that they will have dual functions as first responders and CPT members. In addition, CPTs will be augmented by community support gardaí, who will perform front-line duties and be assigned to particular community policing areas to support dedicated community gardaí. In this way, people will know who their gardaí are and be able to contact them directly. The roll-out of CPTs will complement the roll-out of new community safety partnerships, which will be established nationwide in 2024 after the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill is commenced. This will bring together gardaí, members of the community, various agencies and local representatives to work on a plan to serve communities' needs.

The most important measure I can take is to ensure that we have as many gardaí as possible to populate these community teams. In Irish society, people’s relationship with their local community gardaí is an important one.

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