Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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263. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the Garda numbers for the Cork city Garda division in 2007 and 2011; the current strength in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17403/18]

Charles 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 the strength of the Cork City Division in 2007, 2011 and on 28 February 2018, the latest date for which information is readily available, was 656, 690 and 667 respectively . There are also 42 Garda Reserves and 69 Garda civilian staff attached to the Cork City Division as of the 28 February 2018. 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 Support Units, the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau. 

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 achieve this the Government has put in place a plan for an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Reserve members and 4,000 civilians. We are making real, tangible progress on achieving this goal.

Since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, just under 1,800 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide, of whom 48 have been assigned to the Cork City Division. Garda numbers, taking account of retirements, increased to 13,551 at the end of 2017 - a net increase of over 600 since the end of 2016.

I am pleased that funding is in place to maintain this high level of investment in the Garda workforce to ensure that the vision of an overall workforce of 21,000 by 2021 remains on track. This year a further 800 new Garda Recruits will enter the Garda College. In total, 800 Garda trainees are scheduled to attest during the year, 200 of whom attested last month. Further, Garda numbers, taking account of projected retirements, are on track to reach 14,000 by the end of 2018.

In addition, a further 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 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 Division, including the Cork City Division.

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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264. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to outline the reason a superintendent who was to take up a position at a County Limerick Garda station was appointed last week to head up the national vetting bureau, Thurles, County Tipperary (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17432/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware the Government approved the Five Year Reform and High-level Workforce Plan for An Garda Síochána in July 2016. The plan encompasses the agreed recommendations of the Garda Inspectorate Report "Changing Policing in Ireland" and the Programme for a Partnership Government commitment to expand the Garda work force.

In relation to civilian staff, the Plan sets a medium term target of 20% civilians of the overall Garda workforce by 2021. This translates to a doubling the number of civilian staff from 2,000 to 4,000 over the period and will bring An Garda Síochána more in line with international norms. This target will be achieved through a twin-track approach of firstly, a “civilian by default” policy to be adopted in relation to the filling of all new posts other than operational policing posts and for non-operational policing posts that become vacant and, secondly, the redeployment of Gardaí to policing roles.

While Government determines overall policy and provides the necessary resources, it is the Garda Commissioner who has responsibility to carry on and manage and control generally the administration and business of the Garda Síochána, including by arranging for the recruitment, training and appointment of its members and civilian staff. As the Deputy will be aware it is also 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.

I am assured by the Commissioner that all posts are filled having regard to the Five Year Reform and High-level Workforce Plan for An Garda Síochána and the requirement to allocate both Garda and civilian resources appropriately.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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265. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to set out the number of sergeants and inspectors in County Wexford; the stations in which they are based; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17445/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, 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 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 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. Where a deficiency in resources is identified the matter is considered fully and addressed accordingly.

Appointments to the ranks of Sergeant and Inspector are a matter for the Commissioner under section 14 of Garda Síochána Act 2005.

I am advised by the Commissioner that the overall strength of the Sergeant and Inspector rank was 1866 and 263 respectively as of 28 February 2018, the latest date for which figures are available. I am further advised by the Commissioner that there is currently a competition in train for promotion to the rank of Sergeant and Inspector with the aim of bringing the strength to 2,000 and 300 respectively, as agreed under the Employment Control Framework. I am assured by the Commissioner that following completion of this competition the needs of all Garda Divisions including the Wexford Division will be fully considered when determining the allocation of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors.

For the Deputy's information, I have set out in tabular form the number of Sergeants and Inspectors in the Wexford Division by Station, as of 28 February 2018, the latest date for which figures are currently available, as supplied by the Commissioner.

Wexford Division 28 February 2018