Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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104. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will consider additional investment in An Garda Síochána for the delivery of Garda stations in Donabate and Portrane, in view of State investment in infrastructure through Rebuilding Ireland and the new housing units being delivered there; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17476/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Office of Public Works, working closely with Garda management, has primary responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda stations and, as Minister, I have no direct role in relation to these matters.

I understand from the Garda authorities that the areas of Portrane and Donabate are policed by members attached to Swords Garda station. That station forms part of the Coolock Garda District which is within the wider D.M.R. North Garda Division. I am advised by the Commissioner that the Garda strength of the D.M.R. North Division on the 28 February 2017, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 685 and the strength of Coolock District was 208 of which 72 were assigned to Swords Garda station. There are also 49 Garda Reserves and 42 civilians attached to the Division. When appropriate, the work of local Gardaí is supported by a number of Garda national units such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.

The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Síochána Inspectorate, at the request of the Policing Authority, is carrying out a review of the dispersal and use of resources available to An Garda Síochána in the delivery of policing services to local communities. In this context, I understand that the Authority has informed the Inspectorate that the review should take account of:

- the changing environments in rural, developing urban and suburban areas;

- the views of local communities;

- the allocation to and deployment of Garda resources at the local policing level, including the use of the Garda Reserve, Garda facilities and Garda equipment; and

- relevant recommendations made in previous Inspectorate reports.

I am informed that the review should be completed within the first half of 2018 and I look forward to receiving the report from the Authority in due course.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government commits the Government to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and to deter crime. A cornerstone of this commitment is the Government 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.

I am informed by the Commissioner that, since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, some 839 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide. I am also informed that another 750 trainee Garda are scheduled to attest this year which will see Garda numbers, taking account of projected retirements, increase to around the 13,500 mark by year end - a net increase of some 700 in the total Garda strength since recruitment recommenced.

This focus on investment in personnel is critical. The moratorium on recruitment introduced in 2010 resulted in a significant reduction in the strength of An Garda Síochána. We are now rebuilding the organisation and providing the Commissioner with the resources she needs to allow her to deploy increasing numbers of Gardaí across every Garda Division in the coming years.

This investment in personnel 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 have no doubt that these new resources now coming on stream will see an increase in Garda visibility in our communities.