Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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68. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the staff levels in the Garda Síochána vetting unit in Thurles, County Tipperary, annually in each of the years 2011 to 2015, inclusive, indicating the highest numbers and lowest numbers employed each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17666/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of resources, including both sworn and civilian personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and Units and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.

I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that personnel assignments throughout the country, together with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy, are continually monitored and reviewed and are determined by a number of factors including population, crime trends and the policing needs of each individual Division and Unit. Such monitoring ensures that optimum use is made of Garda resources, and the best possible Garda service is provided to the general public.

I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that as of the 30 April 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available, the Garda Síochána Vetting Unit had a complement of 156 civilian staff and 4 sworn members.

The following table sets out the staffing levels in the Garda Síochána vetting unit on the 31 December 2011 to 2015.

Staffing levels Garda Vetting Unit, Thurles