Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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815. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí by rank attached to the Garda water unit as of 22 March 2021. [16876/21]

Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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816. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí by rank attached to the Garda air support unit as of 22 March 2021. [16877/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 815 and 816 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 these decisions.

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.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that as of 22 March 2021, there are three (3) Sergeants and fifteen (15) Gardaí attached to the Garda Water Unit, and three (3) Sergeants and twenty (20) Gardaí attached to the Garda Air Support Unit.