Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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573. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of shifts over which community gardaí in the R district Dublin are spread; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14080/19]

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.

The areas referred to by the Deputy are part of the Dublin Metropolitan Region (D.M.R.) North Division and I am informed by the Commissioner that the strength of the D.M.R. North Division on 31 January 2019, the latest date for which information is currently available, was 714 of whom 215 were assigned to the Garda R District (Coolock District) There are also 40 Garda Reserves and 53 Garda civilian staff 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 Armed Support Unit, the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.

The Garda strength of the DMR North from 2009 to 31 January 2019 as provided by the Garda Commissioner is available on my Department’s website through the following links.

Community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána as it recognises that every community, either urban or rural, has its own concerns and expectations. The role of a community Garda is not a specialist role in An Garda Síochána; rather it is the case that all Gardaí have a role to play in community policing in carrying out their duties. The official categorisation of Community Garda simply refers to those who are exclusively assigned to building relationships with local communities and civil society including giving talks to schools, community groups and others. It is a matter for the Divisional Chief Superintendent to determine the optimum distribution of duties among the personnel available to him or her having regard to the profile of the area and its specific needs.

I am advised by the Commissioner that all Community Gardaí in the R District are rostered across four units, working Early (7 a.m. - 5 p.m.), Late (12 p.m.-10 p.m./4 p.m.-2 a.m., depending what day the late falls in the roster), and Night Shifts (6 p.m.- 4 a.m.).  

The information in relation to the Community Garda Strength in Coolock, Malahide and Swords Garda Stations as on 31 January 2019, the latest date for which figures are currently available, as supplied by  the Garda Commissioner are as set out in the following table.

For more general information on Garda Facts and Figures please see the following link

Garda Strength Presented - Community Gardaí - Total

*As of 31 January 2019

Total:means all those Gardaí at a station all of whom have community policing as an inherent part of their role.

Community Gardaí:are those with the official categorisation and are exclusively assigned to building relationships with local communities including giving talks to schools, community groups and others.