Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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59. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when the Loughrea Garda district division can expect a new full-time superintendent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24397/17]

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.

Loughrea Garda District forms part of the Galway Division. I am informed by the Commissioner that the Garda strength of the Galway Division on the 31 March 2017, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 568 and the strength of Loughrea District was 80 which includes 12 Sergeants, 1 Inspector and 1 Superintendent. There are also 34 Garda Reserves and 46 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 the Policing Authority assumed responsibility for appointments to the senior ranks of Superintendent, Chief Superintendent and Assistant Garda Commissioner with the commencement of the remaining provisions of the Garda Síochána (Policing Services and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2015 and related Regulations on 1 January 2017.

As matters stand I am advised that by the Commissioner that there are currently two vacancies for Superintendents within the agreed strength of 166 under the Employment Control Framework (ECF). The Authority currently has a selection competition in train for the purpose of making appointments to the rank of Superintendent and it will be a matter for the Commissioner to decide on the assignment of successful candidates from this competition to fill existing vacancies within the ceiling fixed by the ECF.