Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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268. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí based at stations (details supplied) in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49842/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 as amended, the Garda Commissioner has responsibility for management of An Garda Síochána and for the allocation and efficient use of Garda resources. This includes responsibility for personnel matters and the distribution of personnel across the various Garda Divisions. As Minister I have no direct role in these matters. I understand however that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use.

A record €1.76 billion was allocated to the Garda Vote for 2019 and this is increasing to an unprecedented €1.882 billion for 2020. With the benefit of this investment, An Garda Síochána is a growing organisation. Following the attestation of almost 200 new Gardaí last week, we now have over 14,300 Gardaí nationwide, supported by over 2,900 Garda staff. And as part of the Government’s plan to achieve an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021, there is ongoing recruitment of Garda staff which is facilitating the redeployment of Gardaí from administrative to mainstream policing duties where their training and expertise can be used to best effect.

In relation to the information requested on the number of Gardaí assigned from 2009 -2019, the Deputy may find it helpful to be aware that this information is available on my Department’s website. This information is updated every month with the latest data provided by An Garda Síochána. This information is available at the following link:

Information on Garda staff is available at the following link:

For more information on the Garda Workforce as well as general information on Garda facts and figures, the Deputies may also wish to see the information on the following links: