Written answers

Tuesday, 14 November 2017

Department of Justice and Equality

Garda Strength

Photo of Jim O'CallaghanJim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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237. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of inspectors, sergeants, gardaí and civilians in An Garda Síochána each year between 2013 and 2017, by division; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48247/17]

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois, 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 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.

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.

I am informed by the Commissioner that on the 30 September 2017, the latest date for which figures are readily available, the strength of An Garda Síochána was 13,412. There are also 607 Garda Reserves and more than 2,000 civilians attached to An Garda Síochána.

I am further informed by the Commissioner that since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, close to 1,400 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide.  In addition, another 200 trainee Garda are scheduled to attest later 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.

I am pleased to say that Budget 2018 will support the continuation of this high level of investment in the Garda workforce and ensure that the vision of an overall workforce of 21,000 by 2021 remains on track. A further 800 new Garda Recruits will enter the Garda College, and an additional 500 civilians will also be recruited to fill critical skills gaps across the organisation and to facilitate the redeployment of Gardaí from administrative and technical duties to front-line operational duties. There are plans to strengthen the Garda Reserve with new Reserves expected to commence training early in 2018.

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 needed to deploy increasing numbers of Gardaí across every Garda Division, in the coming years. 

The number of Inspectors, Sergeants, Gardaí and civilians in An Garda Síochána each year between 2013 and 2017, by Division as of 30 September 2017, the latest date for which figures are readily available from the Commissioner, is being collated by my Department and I will send this directly to the Deputy once it is to hand.

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