Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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266. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda by rank attached to each community policing unit in each Garda District in Dublin as of 8 November 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47541/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 as amended, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and controlling the administration and business of An Garda Síochána. Further, the allocation of Garda resources in light of identified operational demand. This includes deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no direct role in the matter. I am assured however that Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use. I understand that 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.

It is however important to note that that community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána and that all Gardaí have a role to play in community policing in carrying out their duties. To date, the official categorisation as a Community Garda has simply referred to those who are exclusively assigned to building relationships with local communities and civil society including giving talks to schools, community groups and others.

The information requested by the Deputy is available on my Department's website at:

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

The Deputy may be interested to note the implications for community policing of the new Operating Model for An Garda Síochána, the roll-out of which meets a key commitment in A Policing Service for the Future, the four-year implementation plan for the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland.

The Garda Operating Model reorganises resources around the delivery of frontline policing, placing an increased emphasis on engaging with communities and supporting victims of crime. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that in each Division, there will be a dedicated Superintendent leading a community engagement team. I am confident that this reorganisation will further strengthen community policing and engagement, and provide a more localised, responsive policing service for each Division nationwide.

The Deputy may also be interested to note that a new Community Policing Framework has been developed and is being piloted in 4 Garda Divisions and that it will be reviewed in early 2020. I understand that this new Framework takes into account the recommendations of the Report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, under which it is envisaged that community policing may be a specialism in some urban areas.