Written answers

Wednesday, 30 January 2008

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Garda Deployment

8:00 pm

Photo of Emmet StaggEmmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 1286: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí assigned to each Garda division here; and the population of each division as determined in Census 2006. [2538/08]

Photo of Brian Lenihan JnrBrian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As of the 31 December last, the latest date for which figures are readily available, the personnel strength of each Garda Division was as follows:

DivisionStrength
DMR South Central773
DMR Southern623
DMR Northern761
DMR West758
DMR North Central694
DMR Eastern618
Louth/Meath533
Longford/Westmeath318
Laois/Offaly312
Carlow/Kildare402
Wexford/Wicklow365
Waterford/Kilkenny428
Tipperary361
Cork City656
Cork North285
Cork West294
Kerry318
Limerick593
Clare314
Galway West424
Galway East/Roscommon280
Mayo313
Sligo/Leitrim300
Donegal476
Cavan/Monaghan401
TOTAL11,595

Other members are attached to specialised units such as the Traffic Corps, Divisional Detective Units, Drug Units etc which gives a total attested strength of the force on 31 December 2007 of 13,755. The Deputy will appreciate that, as with any large organisation, on any given day the overall strength of the organisation may fluctuate due, for example, to retirements, resignations etc.

The Small Area Population Statistics (SAPS) for each county have been collated by the CSO from the 2006 census and this information is available on the CSO website at www.cso.ie. The Deputy will be aware that Garda Divisional boundaries are not co-terminus with County boundaries. The Deputy will also be aware that I recently approved the 2008 Annual Policing Plan and laid it before the Houses of the Oireachtas. It sets out the Commissioner's proposals to realign the boundaries of a number of Garda Divisions around the country to make them coterminous with local authority boundaries. A detailed programme of work is currently being developed by An Garda Síochána to implement the changes contained in the policing plan. This programme of work will also examine the geographical areas of district and sub-district stations arising from the re-alignment of the regional and divisional boundaries set out in the plan. The SAPS for each Garda Division are being developed by An Garda Síochána with the assistance of the CSO. It is the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner to allocate personnel throughout the Force taking everything into account. The situation will be kept under review and when additional personnel next become available the needs of each different Garda Division will be fully considered by the Commissioner.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.