Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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1125. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda sergeant and inspector posts which are vacant in each district in the Dublin metropolitan region. [38734/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, throughout the organisation and I have no direct function in the matter. This allocation of resources is constantly monitored in the context of demographics, crime trends, policing needs and other operational strategies in place on a District, Divisional and Regional level to ensure optimum use is made of Garda resources and the best possible Garda service is provided to the public.

While regulations have previously provided for the numbers permitted in each rank, these have been upper ceilings for those numbers, rather than target strengths, and are set at a national rather than local level. It is therefore not generally practical to indicate precise levels of vacancies at the different ranks in specific locations.

However, I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that the strength of those ranks mentioned, in each District in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (D.M.R.), on 31 August 2013, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was as set out in the table below.

The Deputy will appreciate that, as with any large organisation, on any given day, the personnel strength of Garda divisions and stations may fluctuate due, for example, to promotions, retirements and transfers.