Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I should say at the outset that the distribution of gardaí is exclusively the statutory responsibility of the Garda Commissioner. As Minister for Justice and Equality, I have no direct role in the matter. I am informed by the acting Garda Commissioner that in regard to the deployment of Garda personnel, a distribution model is used which takes into account all relevant factors, including population, crime trends and the policing needs of each individual Garda division, including the Dublin metropolitan region, south-central division, with a view to providing an effective and responsive police service.

I am further informed by the acting Garda Commissioner that the overall strength of the DMR, south-central division, as of the 31 January 2018 was 612. When appropriate, the work of local gardaí in the south-central division is supported by a number of Garda national units such as the armed support unit, the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.

Senators will be aware that the closure of the Garda College in Templemore in 2010 and the moratorium imposed at that time had a negative impact on Garda numbers across the country in all divisions. Since the Government reopened the college in Templemore in September 2014, just under 1,600 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties across the country.Of those, 719, or 45%, have been assigned to Dublin, of whom 141 have been assigned to the south-central division.

Senators will appreciate that the challenges presented by gangland crime in the Dublin area have necessitated additional investment in the specialist units to enhance their capacity to support the fight against this scourge. I am advised by the acting Garda Commissioner that extra gardaí have been assigned to the specialist units over recent months, including the drugs and organised crime bureau, which is particularly active in the fight against organised crime in the Dublin region. In addition, a dedicated armed support unit for the Dublin metropolitan region, DMR, was established at the end of 2016 to enhance armed support capability in Dublin and free up the resources of the emergency response unit. I understand that the allocation of resources to these units has affected disproportionately the number of divisional gardaí in the Dublin region. This will be one of the factors taken into account by the acting Commissioner when considering the allocation of new Garda recruits. I am pleased to say that 200 new gardaí will pass out of the Garda College next week and be assigned to locations around the country, with a particular focus on the Dublin region.

I assure the House that the Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country, including on the streets of our capital city, to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime. To make this a reality for all, the Government has in place a plan for an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021, including 15,000 Garda members. Real and tangible progress has been made towards this goal. Garda numbers, taking account of projected retirements, increased to 13,551 at the end of 2017, a net increase of more than 600 since the end of 2016. I am pleased that funding is in place to maintain this high level of investment in the Garda workforce. This year, a further 800 new Garda recruits will enter the Garda College in Templemore, with 200 having already entered since 29 January. In total, 800 Garda trainees are scheduled to attest during the year, with 200 due to attest next week. Taking account of projected retirements, Garda numbers are on track to reach 14,000 by the end of this year. Undoubtedly, the ongoing recruitment process will support all Garda activities, enhance visibility within our communities and enable the acting Commissioner to provide additional resources across the DMR, including the south-central division, as new Garda recruits come on stream.