Written answers

Thursday, 24 November 2016

Department of Justice and Equality

Garda Deployment

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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41. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the Garda numbers for the Drogheda district and the Dundalk district for each of the years 2011 to date in 2016, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36607/16]

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources.

I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that in regard to the deployment of Garda personnel, a distribution model is used which takes into account all relevant factors including population, crime trends and the policing needs of each individual Garda Division. It is the responsibility of the Divisional Officer to allocate personnel within his/her Division.

I am further informed that the Garda strength of the Drogheda District and the Dundalk District, on the 31 October 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 104 and 164 respectively. There are also 18 Garda Reserves and 11 civilians attached to the Drogheda District and 9 Garda Reserves and 8 civilians attached to the Dundalk District. When appropriate, the work of local Gardaí is supported by a number of Garda national units such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI), the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (formerly the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation) and the Garda National Drugs and Organise Crime Bureau.

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. To make this a reality for all, 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.

I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that since the reopening of the Garda College, 679 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide including 41 to the Louth Division.

I am further informed that the following table sets out the Garda strength for the Drogheda and Dundalk District for each year since 2011 to 31 October 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available.

DROGHEDA AND DUNDALK DISTRICTS 2011 - 2016

DISTRICTSTATION
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
DROGHEDACLOUGHERHEAD
4
4
4
4
3
3
DROGHEDA
98
93
93
92
97
95
DUNLEER
5
5
5
5
6
6
TOTAL
107
102
102
101
106
104
DUNDALKBLACKROCK
5
6
4
4
3
4
CARLINGFORD
6
6
6
6
6
6
DRUMAD
6
7
7
7
7
7
DUNDALK
130
123
120
119
123
138
HACKBALLSCROSS
6
5
5
5
4
5
OMEATH
5
4
4
4
4
4
TOTAL
158
151
146
145
147
164

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