Written answers

Tuesday, 28 November 2017

Department of Justice and Equality

Garda Strength

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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272. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí assigned to the Tipperary, Waterford and Carlow Kilkenny Garda divisions in the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50164/17]

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.

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 Tipperary Division, Waterford Division and the Kilkenny/Carlow Division was 372, 285 and 318 respectively. There are also 18 Garda Reserves and 40 civilians attached to the Tipperary Division, 19 Reserves and 30 civilians attached to the Waterford Division and 26 Reserves and 31 civilians attached to the Kilkenny/Carlow 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 Armed Response Unit, the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.

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, 35, 49 and 44 of whom were assigned to the Tipperary Division, Waterford Division and the Kilkenny/Carlow Division respectively.  In addition, another 200 trainee Garda are scheduled to attest next month 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.

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, 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, including the Tipperary Division, Waterford Division and the Kilkenny/Carlow Division, in the coming years.

The strength of the Tipperary Division, Waterford Division and the Kilkenny/Carlow Division in each of the years 2013-2016 and on 30 September 2017, the latest date for which figures are readily available from An Garda Síochána, are as set out in the following table.

Garda Strength by Division 2013 - 2017
Division20132014201520162017*
Tipperary371359354364372
Waterford274274282277285
Kilkenny/Carlow289279284296318
*Up to 30 September 2017

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