Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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206. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of community gardaí assigned to the Donegal division; if this is a reduction on the position in October 2016 (details supplied); if so, the reason for the reduction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20653/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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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. 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.

Garda management has advised that a review of the categorisation of resources conducted in the Donegal Division in late 2016 found that nineteen Gardaí previously recorded as being exclusively assigned to community policing duties were no longer carrying out such duties as their sole area of responsibility but as part of their regular duties following redeployment to different units. Consequently, the number of Gardai categorised as Community Gardaí within the Division was reduced from twenty one to two.