Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein)
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702. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí stationed at Pearse Street Garda station in each of the years 2016 to 2019 and to date in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37929/20]

Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein)
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704. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí stationed at Kevin Street Garda station in each of the years 2016 to 2019 and to date in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37931/20]

Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein)
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706. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí stationed at Irishtown Garda station in each of the years 2016 to 2019 and to date in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37933/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 702, 704 and 706 together.

The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is, by law, responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters and deployment of resources. 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.

An Garda Síochána has been allocated an unprecedented budget of €1.952 billion for 2021. This level of funding is enabling sustained, ongoing recruitment of Garda members and staff. As a result, Garda numbers are now some 14,600 Garda members and over 3,000 Garda staff nationwide. Budget 2021 will allow for the recruitment of up to620 new Gardaí and an extra 500 Garda staff.

As the Deputy is aware, the Garda stations referred to are located within the DMR South Central Division. At the 31 October 2020 there were 730 Garda members attached to the DMR South Central Division which represents an increase of almost 16% since 2016. These Garda members are supported by 126 Garda staff which represents an increase of 350% since 2016 when 28 Garda members were assigned to the Division.

For the Deputy's information, the table below which has been provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of Gardaí assigned to the DMR South Central Division at 31 October 2020.

Detailed information in relation to Garda numbers, including the year end figures for the Division mentioned in each of the years from 2010 to 2019, is available on my Department’s website. This information is updated every month with the latest data provided by An Garda Síochána, at the following link:

Additional information on Garda staff, the Garda Workforce and other facts and figures are available at the following link:

Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein)
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703. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of community gardaí stationed at Pearse Street Garda station in each of the years 2016 to 2019 and to date in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37930/20]

Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein)
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705. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of community gardaí stationed at Kevin Street Garda station in each of the years 2016 to 2019 and to date in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37932/20]

Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein)
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707. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of community gardaí stationed at Irishtown Garda station in each of the years 2016 to 2019 and to date in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37934/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 703, 705 and 707 together.

As the Deputy will appreciate, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 as amended, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. Further, the allocation of Garda resources is made in light of identified operational demands. 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. Indeed, this has never been more evident than in the work carried out by all members of the Gardaí over the last eight months as we have tackled the COVID-19 pandemic.

I have been advised by the Garda authorities the information provided in the attached spreadsheet, sets out the number of Community Gardaí assigned to the Garda stations based at Pearse Street, Kevin Street and Irishtown for the years in question.

I can inform the Deputy that detailed information in relation to Community Garda numbers is available on my Department’s website. This information is updated every month with the latest data provided by An Garda Síochána, at the following link: