Written answers

Tuesday, 15 November 2016

Department of Justice and Equality

Garda Deployment

Photo of Billy KelleherBilly Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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41. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda stations and the number of gardaí in each in Cork city on 31 October 2010 and on 31 October 2016; the proportion of the proposed 800 additional recruits in 2017 that are likely to be assigned to Cork city; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34695/16]

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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This Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime and the Deputy will be aware that in the most recent CSO figures, for Quarter 2 of 2016, there were decreases in many crime categories, including for example a 26% reduction in burglaries. This reflects the success of the concerted Garda drive against crime being implemented under Operation Thor. It is important we build on this success by ensuring that Garda numbers continue to increase. The Government has in place a plan to achieve an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Reserve members and 4,000 civilians. In 2017, funding has been provided for the recruitment of 800 Garda recruits and up to 500 civilians to support the wide-ranging reform plan in train in An Garda Síochána. Appointments will also be made to the Garda Reserve of approximately 300.

Taking account of projected retirements, reaching a strength of 15,000 will require some 3,200 new Garda members to be recruited on a phased basis over the next four years in addition to the 1,200 that will have been recruited by the end of this year since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014. This is an ambitious target and will require a continuous pipeline of suitable candidates. I am pleased to say that the recruitment campaign launched by the Public Appointments Service on behalf of the Commissioner last September, the second campaign this year, again received a strong response.

Since the reopening of the Garda College, 534 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide. I am informed that of these, 12 have been assigned to the Cork City Division. Another 150 trainee Garda will attest this Thursday, 17 November, which will bring Garda numbers to around the 13,000 mark by year end.

In so far as the allocation of newly attested Gardaí next year is concerned, this is a matter for the Garda Commissioner and I, as Minister, has no direct role in it. I am assured by the Commissioner that the needs of all Garda Divisions are fully considered when determining the allocation of resources. However, it is important to keep in mind that newly attested Gardaí have a further 16 months of practical and class-room based training to complete in order to receive their BA in Applied Policing. To ensure that they are properly supported and supervised and have opportunities to gain the breadth of policing experience required, the Commissioner's policy is to allocate them to specially designated training stations which have the required structures and resources in place, including Garda tutors.

The Government's plan for an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 is complemented by substantial investment in resources across the board for An Garda Síochána. The Deputy will be aware of the significant resources that have been made available to An Garda Síochána under the Government's Capital Plan 2016-2021. In particular, some €205 million in additional funding for Garda ICT and €46 million for new Garda vehicles has been allocated over the lifetime of the plan. This investment will facilitate the provision of more effective policing services and I expect that the Cork City Division, like all other Garda Divisions, will benefit from these new resources becoming available.

For ease of reference I have provided a breakdown of the detailed information requested in relation to the number of Garda stations and number of Garda assigned to the Cork City Division on 31 October 2010 and 30 September 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available, for the record.

Cork City Division 31 Oct 2010
ANGLESEA STREET DISTRICTANGLESEA STREET
281
BARRACK STREET
21
BLACKROCK
30
BRIDEWELL
21
Total
353
GURRANABRAHER DISTRICTBALLINCOLLIG
22
BLARNEY
17
GURRANABRAHER
60
RATHDUFF GRENAGH
2
Total
101
MAYFIELD DISTRICTMALLOW ROAD
5
MAYFIELD
59
MC CURTAIN STREET
0
WATERCOURSE ROAD
48
Total
112
TOGHER DISTRICTBISHOPSTOWN
23
CARRIGALINE
21
CROSSHAVEN
3
DOUGLAS
28
PASSAGE WEST
4
TOGHER
59
Total
138
CORK CITY DIVISION18 Stations
704
Cork City Division 30 Sept 2016
ANGLESEA STREET DISTRICTANGLESEA STREET
277
BLACKROCK
25
BRIDEWELL
27
TOTAL
329
GURRANABRAHER DISTRICTBALLINCOLLIG
20
BLARNEY
18
CARRIG NA BHFEAR
1
GURRANABRAHER
52
TOTAL
91
MAYFIELD DISTRICTGLANMIRE
19
MAYFIELD
51
WATERCOURSE ROAD
45
TOTAL
115
TOGHER DISTRICTBISHOPSTOWN
21
CARRIGALINE
20
CROSSHAVEN
2
DOUGLAS
20
PASSAGE WEST
2
TOGHER
48
TOTAL
113
CORK CITY DIVISION16 Stations
648

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