Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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337. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí by rank attached to the regional support unit in Dublin metropolitan region, DMR, north in each of the years 2009 to 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form. [39512/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for the management and administration 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.

For operational and security reasons, An Garda Síochána cannot release the figures for the Regional Support Unit.

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 approximately 14,600 Garda members and over 3,000 Garda staff nationwide. Budget 2021 will allow for the recruitment of up to 620 new Gardaí and an extra 500 Garda staff.

Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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338. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí by rank attached to the operational support unit in DMR north in each of the years 2009 to 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form. [39515/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for the management and administration 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 Operational Support Unit is a national service. National units support the work of all Garda Divisions across the country and are consequently not broken down by Division.

Operational Support Services consists of units that provide specialist support to Gardaí throughout the country. The units include the Mounted Support Unit, the Air Support Unit, the Dog Unit and the Water Unit.

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 approximately 14,600 Garda members and over 3,000 Garda staff nationwide. Budget 2021 will allow for the recruitment of up to 620 new Gardaí and an extra 500 Garda staff.

Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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339. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí by rank attached to the traffic corps unit in DMR north in each of the years 2009 to 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form. [39516/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for the management and administration 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.

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 to 620 new Gardaí and an extra 500 Garda staff.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the tables below show the number of Gardaí attached to DMR North Traffic corps unit from 31/12/2009 to 31/10/2020:

I am advised that a range of factors are taken into account by Garda management when considering the allocation of resources including commitments and undertakings outlined in the Annual Policing Plan and priorities as determined in delivering ‘A Policing Service for The Future’. Also taken into account are local and national crime trends and workloads; policing arrangements and operational strategies; minimum establishment statistics; local population and trends, geographical area and size; transfer applications, including welfare / personnel issues and concerns.

To ensure the continued high level of delivery of policing services within Garda Divisions, local and Senior Garda Management are also consulted during the allocation of personnel and are responsible for the specific deployment / assignment of duties being undertaken at Divisional level. The situation remains closely monitored by the Garda Senior Leadership Team, particularly in view of commitments to the continued roll-out of the Operating Model of policing at Divisional level to ensure optimum use of all Garda Resources in providing the best possible Garda service to the community.

The Deputy may wish to know that detailed information in relation to 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:

Figures for Roads Policing Unit by Division from 2009 to present is outlined in the below link:

Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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340. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí by rank attached to the public order unit in DMR north in each of the years 2009 to 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form. [39517/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I have requested information from the Garda Commissioner in relation to this matter and I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.

Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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341. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí by rank attached to the community relations unit in DMR North in each of the years 2009 to 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form. [39518/20]

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 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.

With regard to the number of Gardaí attached to the community relations Unit within the DMR North for the years 2009 to 2014, I am advised by the Commissioner that the Community Relations Unit is a national service. National units support the work of all Garda Divisions across the country and are consequently not broken down by Division.

However, figures for Community Policing by Division for the years 2008 up to October 2020 can be found on my Department's website at the following link:

It should also be noted that, 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.

For the Deputy's information the table below, as provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of Community Gardaí by rank, assigned to Community Policing duties, in the DMR North for the years 2015 up to and including 31 October 2020.

I am further informed by the Garda authorities that some members attached to Community Policing Units in DMR North were temporarily re-assigned to the regular units at the commencement of the COVID-19 roster. However, members from the Community Policing Units remain in contact with their contacts throughout the community and have been providing valuable assistance to vulnerable persons throughout the crisis.