Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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323. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number and rank of members of An Garda Síochána assigned to County Mayo in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13463/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters and deployment of resources. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. I am assured 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.

The resources provided to An Garda Síochána have reached unprecedented levels, with an allocation for 2020 of €1.88 billion. This level of funding is enabling sustained, ongoing recruitment of Garda members and staff. As at 31 May 2020, there are now 14,700 Gardaí nationwide, supported by over 3,000 Garda staff and these numbers are continuing to grow.

This total figure includes the Garda trainees from two separate intake classes who attested earlier than scheduled in March 2020, following an operational decision by the Garda Commissioner to augment An Garda Síochána's capacity to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Specifically in relation to Mayo, I am informed by the Garda authorities that as at 31 May 2020 there were 348 Gardaí assigned to the Mayo Division. This represents a significant increase of 45 Gardaí in the Division since the end of 2015.

A detailed breakdown of the Garda workforce, including both Garda members and staff, is available on my Department’s website.

Detail of Garda deployment for all Garda Divisions, as furnished to me by An Garda Síochána, is available at the following link:

.

This information is updated every month with the latest data provided by An Garda Síochána and published on my Department's website, in the interests of transparency and for the convenience of Deputies and the wider public.

Additional information on the Garda workforce, as furnished to me by An Garda Síochána, is available at the following link: .

Information on Garda staff, as furnished to me by An Garda Síochána, is available at the following link: .

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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324. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of staff employed at the Garda Information Services Centre, Castlebar, County Mayo over the past four years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13464/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters and deployment of resources. As Minister, I have no responsibility for these matters. I am assured 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.

The resources provided to An Garda Síochána have reached unprecedented levels, with an allocation for 2020 of €1.88 billion. This level of funding is enabling sustained, ongoing recruitment of Garda members and staff and as a result, An Garda Síochána is a growing organisation. As at 31 May 2020, there are now 14,700 Gardaí nationwide, supported by over 3,000 Garda staff and these numbers are continuing to grow.

The Garda Information Service Centre (GISC) was established by An Garda Síochána in Castlebar in 2005. I understand that it operates on a 24 hour and seven day a week basis, all throughout the year, with objectives including the reduction of time spent by operational members on administrative duties and improvement of the quality of data at An Garda Síochána. I am informed by An Garda Síochána that the GISC is staffed entirely by Garda Staff.

The following table, furnished to me by the Garda authorities sets out the number of staff assigned to GISC from 2016 up to 31 May 2020.

I am further informed that a review of the functions of GISC has been carried out, as recommended by the Commission and that its recommendations and staffing implications are under consideration.