Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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267. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the Garda Commissioner and-or his officers consulted with officials in his Department with regard to recent Garda divisional reforms in advance of the restructuring in the context of the analysis of existing population and population growth in respective geographical areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41918/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Justice and Equality, I welcome the announcement in recent weeks by the Garda Commissioner of a new Operating Model of An Garda Síochána.  

This functional model has long been recommended by independent policing specialists, including the Garda Síochána Inspectorate and in the Report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland (CoFPI).  Rollout of this model meets a key commitment in A Policing Service for the Future, the four-year implementation plan giving effect to the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland.  As the Deputy will be aware, the Commission on the Future of Policing engaged extensively in the course of its work including with members of the public, senior government leaders, politicians from all parties, academics in Ireland and abroad and officials from other jurisdictions, Gardaí and Garda staff.  

I am informed by the Commissioner a number of considerations were taken into account in developing the new model and the restructuring of Divisions, including population, geography, projected growth, crime trends and workload across a range of work streams. 

While new to Ireland, this model is the norm in other countries.  It is designed to reduce bureaucracy and will shift real decision-making power from Garda Headquarters to the Chief Superintendents, closer to the communities they serve.  Importantly, it will also result in significantly more Sergeants and Inspectors on the ground where leadership, supervision and mentoring is crucial. 

I understand that the new model will be implemented on a phased basis throughout 2020.  I welcome the Commissioner's announcement last month of the new Divisional HQs and also his announcement last week of the first five Divisions where the new Model will be implemented, namely Galway, Cork City, Dublin South Central, Meath/Westmeath and Limerick.  

I further understand that the Commissioner and his team are willing to meet with Joint Policing Committees all over Ireland in the weeks ahead and that there will be opportunities for detailed local engagement at that stage. 

I can confirm that while I have been informed of the Commissioner's plan and, of course, I was familiar with the recommendations of the Garda Síochána Inspectorate and the Commission on the Future of Policing on these matters, the detail of the plan was solely a matter for An Garda Síochána in line with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 which states that by law the allocation of all Garda resources, including the deployment and distribution of Garda personnel, is solely a matter for the Commissioner.   

Finally, it may be noted that these changes are being introduced at a time of record investment in An Garda Síochána. €1.76 billion has been allocated to the Garda Vote for 2019, as well as capital investment amounting to € 92 million this year. I am pleased to have secured an overall increase of €122 million to increase An Garda Síochána’s budget for 2020 to an unprecedented €1.882 billion for next year in addition to €116million in capital investment.  This level of funding will allow the Garda Commissioner to recruit up to 700 new Gardaí next year and additional Garda staff. 

I am confident that this ongoing investment in Garda resources together with the ongoing reform process will result in an improved policing service for all communities, urban and rural, now and into the future.