Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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625. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated cost of increasing the number of community gardaí by 25% in 2021. [8626/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that 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 decisions on such 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. The significant level of funding provided over recent years is enabling sustained, ongoing recruitment of Garda members and staff. As a result, there are now approximately 14,600 Garda members and over 3,000 Garda staff nationwide.

Budget 2021 will allow for the recruitment of up to620 new Gardaí, subject to public health considerations regarding the operation of the Garda College. The Budget allocation also provides for an increase in supervisory ranks at Sergeant and Inspector level.

The table below shows the estimated incremental salary costs if the current number of Community Gardaí is increased by 25%. I am advised that as at 31 December 2020, there is a total (across three Garda ranks) of 751 Community Gardaí.

Salary costs are calculated using the midpoint of the current Garda Salary scale and include fixed allowances which the member is entitled to. An estimate of Employer’s PRSI is also included. Allowances for unsocial hours and any potential overtime payments in excess of standard briefing time are not included.

However it is important to note that, to date, the categorisation of Community Garda has been restricted to those who are exclusively assigned to building relationships with local communities and civil society including giving talks to schools, community groups and others. Community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána and all Gardaí have a key role to play in community policing, a point emphasised by the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland.

This community focussed approach has never been more evident than in the work carried out by all members of the Gardaí in supporting communities throughout the country over the course of the last year as part of the national effort to combat COVID-19.

Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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626. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí stationed at each station in County Kildare and Portarlington, County Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8700/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The resources provided by Government to An Garda Síochána have reached unprecedented levels, with an allocation of €1.88 billion for 2020 and of €1.952 billion in Budget 2021. This level of investment is enabling sustained, ongoing recruitment of Garda members and staff. There are now approximately 14,600 Gardaí nationwide, supported by over 3,000 Garda staff. Taken together, this number of Garda members and staff is delivering a significant growth in operational policing hours nationwide.

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 information provided in the attached spreadsheet sets out the number of Gardaí assigned to Kildare Division and to Laois/Offaly Division at 31 January 2021.

The Deputy may wish to know that the Garda numbers by rank in all Garda stations is available on my Department’s website in tabular form. This information is updated every month with the latest data provided by An Garda Síochána, at the following link: