Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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954. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason for the significant drop in the number of community gardaí in the DMR district, in absolute numbers and as a percentage of the total force in the district; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15840/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, 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 is made 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 policing priorities and crime trends, 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 each area within the Division and its specific needs.

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. However, it is important to note 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.

I understand that the Deputy has clarified that his question relates to DMR North. I can confirm that as at the 31st May 2020, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 801 Gardaí assigned to the DMR North. This compares to a figure of 753 on 31st December 2019. Of this total, there were 11 Community Gardaí assigned to DMR North as of 31st May, compared to 39 on 31st December. However, as the Deputy will be aware, as of 16th March 2020, a Contingency Roster was introduced into An Garda Síochána owing to the COVID-19 Pandemic. I am informed by the Garda authorities that in order to maximise the availability of resources, members attached to Community Policing were allocated to the Core Roster or the Supplementary Units. This provision will continue until September 2020.

I am further informed however that the expected abstraction rate by COVID-19 did not occur within An Garda Síochána, and therefore the organisation maintained its strength throughout. I am advised that this meant that, in essence, the community Gardaí could still attend to their community functions although the groups with whom they generally engage are not in a position to meet.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Government is currently implementing the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland through the four year implementation plan A Policing Service for the Future. In its report, published in September 2018, the Commission outlined a vision and roadmap for strengthening An Garda Síochána and the broader national framework for policing, security and community safety. The report followed extensive consultations with communities and a wide range of stakeholders over fifteen months.

A key commitment in A Policing Service for the Future is the rollout of An Garda Síochána’s new Operating Model. 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.

In a broader sense, the Deputy might also wish to note that implementation of A Policing Service for the Future will see the Garda Síochána Act 2005 repealed and replaced by a Policing and Community Safety Act. My Department is progressing work on the preparation of a Policing and Community Safety Bill as a matter of priority.

In addition to setting out a new governance and oversight framework for policing, it will redefine the functions of An Garda Síochána to include prevention of harm to those who are vulnerable, place an obligation on relevant state agencies to cooperate with An Garda Síochána in relation to the broader issue of community safety and refine local structures supporting local accountability for policing. In that context, my Department is currently in the process of finalising the most appropriate model to achieve this. All existing structures and approaches to community safety have been considered as part of this work and in line with the recommendation of the Commission on the Future of Policing that community policing and community engagement should be at the heart of new structures and policing arrangements.

As I have indicated to the Deputy, work is well advanced on the preparation of the General Scheme of the Bill. Once it is finalised, I intend to bring it before the Government for approval and publication in the normal manner.