Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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129. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason the number of sergeants at a Garda station (details supplied) has gone from a total of 12 in 2007 to 2008 to six in 2017; if this number will be reviewed and increased in the interest of the supervision and assistance of junior members of the force which are needed in each district; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48292/17]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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130. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if an adequate number of sergeants will be provided in counties Cavan and Monaghan to prevent double jobbing occurring in certain stations and to ensure best possible practice for the welfare of persons involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48293/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 129 and 130 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, the severe economic crisis in Ireland led to the closure of the Garda College in Templemore in 2010 when a moratorium of Garda recruitment was also imposed by the then Government. The Government that came into power in 2011 had to first stabilise the public finances, bring the State to the position where we could exit the bailout, and then steer the economy into growth. As the Deputy will be aware, in recent years, the country has had the fastest growing economy in the EU. As a consequence of the recovery, the Government re-opened the Garda College at the first available opportunity and began an ambitious recruitment campaign.

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.

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. The substantial increase in Garda numbers is tangible progress on achieving this Government’s vision of an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Reserve members and 4,000 civilians.

It will take time to address the impact of the moratorium on Garda recruitment imposed in 2010 but the active recruitment which began in 2014 will in due course have a positive impact on the number of Gardaí in supervisory roles within the Force, including in the Cavan/Monaghan Division. I am advised by the Commissioner that competitions for promotion to the ranks of Sergeant and Inspector are currently in train and that the requirements of each Garda Division including the Cavan/ Monaghan Division will be considered by the Commissioner when assigning successful candidates from these competitions.

As the Deputy will be aware, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and Districts 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.

The Garda Station referred to forms part of the Cavan/Monaghan Division. I am informed by the Commissioner that on the 30 September 2017 the latest date for which figures are readily available the strength of the Cavan/Monaghan Division was 321, of whom 50 were Sergeants. I am further informed that the strength of the Garda Station in question on the 31 December 2007 was 40 of whom 6 were Sergeants and on 30 September 2017 it was 43 of whom 6 were Sergeants. There are also 12 Garda Reserves and 38 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 filling of vacancies in the supervisory ranks of Sergeant and Inspector is a matter for the Garda Commissioner who has responsibility under the Garda Síochána (Promotion) Regulations 2006 (as amended) for holding competitions for the selection of members for promotion to these ranks.