Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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602. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of community gardaí allocated to the Drogheda area, County Louth, in each year since 2012; the number of community gardaí who have been seconded out of the Drogheda area to other areas in each year since 2012; and the average period for which these gardaí are seconded in each year since 2012. [30666/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel, including Community Gardaí, among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of resources.

I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the number of dedicated Community Gardaí in the Drogheda Garda District Division on 31 December 2012 to 31 December 2014 and on 31 July 2015, the latest date for which figures are readily available is set out in the following table:

It is, of course, the case that all Gardaí have a role to play in addressing community policing issues as and when the need arises. In that sense, community policing involves far more than a single unit within the Garda Síochána, a point highlighted by the Garda Inspectorate in their third report entitled "Policing in Ireland—Looking Forward" in which they stated that community policing is a fundamental policing philosophy and that there is a strong foundation for it in Ireland.

The Garda Síochána now operates a new model of Community Policing which aims to build upon and enhance progress made so far. I fully support this renewed emphasis on Community Policing particularly in light of the priority given to this in the Programme for Government. The model is about renewing, reinvigorating and restructuring the community policing function within An Garda Síochána to deliver a consistent national structure to the community policing function, a more co-ordinated and efficient Garda service to the community and a spread of good practice and quality of service in community policing on a national basis.

In relation to the information sought by the Deputy regarding the number of Community Gardaí seconded, I have requested that information from the Garda Commissioner and will write directly to the Deputy on receipt of same.