Written answers

Tuesday, 29 November 2016

Department of Justice and Equality

Garda Communications

Photo of Catherine MurphyCatherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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118. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí that are officially designated as community gardaí; the number of those gardaí that are using a non-garda.ie email address to correspond with members of the public; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37429/16]

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.

Community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána. It provides a means of recognising that every community – both urban and rural – has its own concerns and expectations. In this regard I welcome the strong emphasis placed by the Commissioner's Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021 on further developing and supporting the community policing ethos of the organisation so that Gardaí spend more time in the community, gaining public confidence and trust and providing a greater sense of security. Proposed initiatives include the establishment of local Community Policing Teams (CPTs) headed by an Inspector and made up of Gardaí from across a range of areas to proactively work with the community to prevent and detect crime; and the establishment of Community Safety Fora in every District comprising local Gardaí, local communities and key stakeholders.

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.

I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that since the reopening of the College, 679 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide. It is expected that Community Policing and all other Garda activities, will undoubtedly benefit from these resources now coming on stream.

The use of forms of communication in particular circumstances are operational matters for An Garda Síochána and policy and practice in this regard are a matter for the Garda Commissioner to determine. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that all Community Gardaí are provided with an official Garda email address for use as appropriate in the course of their duties.

For the Deputy's information the table shows the number, as provided by the Commissioner, of Community Gardaí assigned to each Garda Division on 30 September 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available.

Number of Community Garda by Division on 30/09/2016

DIVISIONTOTAL
DMR South Central 33
DMR North Central 104
DMR NORTH53
DMR EAST30
DMR SOUTH39
DMR WEST58
Waterford44
Wexford8
Tipperary72
Kilkenny/Carlow90
Cork City24
Cork North8
Cork West5
Kerry7
Limerick45
Donegal22
Cavan/Monaghan4
Sligo/Leitrim8
Louth16
Clare6
Mayo 3
Galway14
Roscommon/Longford8
Westmeath10
Meath10
Kildare0
Laois/Offaly4
Wicklow15
Total740

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