Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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321. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of FTE members of the Garda traffic corps or equivalent division in each of the past six years. [31185/19]

Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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349. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of full-time equivalent members of the Garda traffic corps or equivalent division in each of the past six years. [31164/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 321 and 349 together.

As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for managing An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters, and I, as Minister, have no role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution under review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities to ensure optimum use is made of the resources.

In 2017 the Commissioner established the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau (GNRPB) to ensure a consistent approach to road safety and enforcement of road traffic legislation across the country. This is achieved through coordination of enforcement and development of policy based on research and analysis of statistics and by engaging in campaigns in partnership with other State Agencies.

The Divisional Garda Traffic Corps have been re-named Garda Road Policing Units, to reflect the role the Units will play in denying criminals the use of the roads network. In addition to the Roads Policing Units focusing on the lifesaver offences of speeding, seatbelts, mobile phones and driving under the influence, they will also focus on crime prevention and crime detection. Divisional Roads Policing Units will work closely with other Divisional units to target known criminals and to disrupt their activities through strict enforcement of road traffic legislation.

The allocation and transfer of Garda Personnel is determined by a number of factors, including crime and non-crime workload, minimum establishment, population, area, policing arrangements, operational strategies and transfer applications, including welfare issues. When allocations are taking place, comprehensive consultation is carried out with Local Management during which all factors are taken into consideration. Where a deficiency in resources is identified the matter is considered fully and addressed accordingly.

The strength of the Roads Policing Units by Division, in each of the years 2009 to 31 May 2019 is available on my Department’s website through the following link:

The overall workforce strength of An Garda Síochána is available on my Department’s website through the following link:

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

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Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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322. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the strength of the Garda fraud unit; the strength in each of the past five years; and the number of personal injury claims defended in each year in tabular form. [31255/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for managing An Garda Síochána including personnel matters.

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 have requested a report from the Commissioner in relation to the matter referred to by the Deputy and I will revert to him when it is to hand.