Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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102. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the substantial reduction in Garda numbers in the Cavan and Monaghan district since 2008; her plans to replace the 74 gardaí that have left employment in this division over the past number of years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19209/17]

Frances 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 the 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 or her Division.

I am further informed by the Garda Commissioner that the Garda strength of the Cavan / Monaghan Division, on 31 March 2017, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 321. There are also13 Garda Reserves and 36 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 (NBCI), the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau and the Garda National Drugs and Organised 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 to 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.

This plan is progressing well. This year, 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. Funding has also been provided for the recruitment of 300 Garda Reserves.

I am informed by the Commissioner, since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, that 981 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide, 21 of whom have been assigned to the Cavan / Monaghan Division. I am also informed that another 600 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 - an increase of 500 since the end of 2016.

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, including the Cavan / Monaghan 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.

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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103. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí currently stationed at Clondalkin, Rathcoole, Rowlagh and Lucan Garda stations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19215/17]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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104. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new Garda recruits assigned to Rathcoole, Clondalkin, Rowlagh and Lucan Garda stations in 2016 and to date in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19216/17]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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105. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of community gardaí currently stationed at Clondalkin, Rathcoole, Rowlagh and Lucan Garda stations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19217/17]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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106. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda reservists currently stationed at Clondalkin, Rathcoole, Rowlagh and Lucan Garda stations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19218/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 to 106, inclusive, together.

As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who 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. I am assured by the Commissioner that the allocation of Gardaí is continually monitored and reviewed taking into account all relevant factors including crime trends, demographics, and security assessments relating to the area in question so as to ensure optimal use is made of Garda human resources.

I am informed by the 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 understand that Clondalkin, Rathcoole, and Lucan Garda stations form part of the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) West Garda Division and that Rowlagh is an area of Dublin 22 that is covered by Ronanstown Garda station.

I am further informed by the Commissioner that on the 31 March 2017, the latest date for which figures are readily available, that the DMR West Division had a total Garda strength of 660. There are also 27 Garda Reserves and 45 civilians attached to the Division. When appropriate, the work of the Division 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.

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.

This plan is progressing well. This year, 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. Funding has also been provided for the recruitment of 300 Garda Reserves.

I am advised by the Commissioner, that since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, 981 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide, of which 33 were assigned to the DMR West Division, in 2016 and 23 in 2017. I understand that another 600 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 - an increase of 500 since the end of 2016.

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, including the DMR West 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.

I am informed by the Commissioner that as of the 31 March 2017, the latest date for which figures are available, the Garda and Reserve strength of Rathcoole, Clondalkin, Lucan and Ronanstown Garda Station, including the number of Community Gardaí is as set out in the tables.

Garda Strength 31 March 2017

Garda Reserve Strength 31 March 2017