Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

98. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of staff in each Garda division that assigned to each Garda victim service office, in tabular form. [11287/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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.

A key element of the Garda Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021 is ensuring victims are at the heart of the service provided by An Garda Síochána and that they receive the quality service to which they are entitled. Following a successful pilot programme, the Commissioner has now put in place Garda Victim Service Offices across all 28 Garda Divisions. These offices provide a central point of contact for victims of crime in each Division and are staffed by specially trained Garda members and civilian personnel.

I have requested the specific information sought from the Commissioner and when it is to hand I will forward it to the Deputy.