Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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923. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí stationed across the Tipperary division in each of the years since 2015 to date. [42607/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the general management and administration of the Garda organisation under the Garda Síochána Act 2005. This includes the deployment of members of An Garda Síochána throughout the State. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.

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 am further advised 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 approximately 14,500 Garda members and over 3,000 Garda staff nationwide.  

For the Deputy's information, the tables appended to this answer contain the breakdown of Garda members attached to the Tipperary Division from 2015 to August 2021, the latest date for which figures are available. 

Detailed information in relation to the Garda strength of each Garda Division by District, Station and Rank is available on my Department’s website. This information is updated every month with the latest data provided by An Garda Síochána. The information can be found at the following link:

www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/An_Garda_Siochana_facts_and_figures 

Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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924. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if there is an optimal ratio of Garda personnel per member of the public; if Garda figures are based upon population or geographic area; and the way the number of gardaí currently serving compares to the optimum number. [42608/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and to deter crime.

As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the distribution of Garda personnel and resources. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that when consideration is given to the allocation of resources and in facilitating transfers of personnel to/from any Division, account is given to commitments and undertakings outlined in the Annual Policing Plan. In the context of the requirements of all Garda Divisions nationwide, the following factors are also accounted for: 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 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.

Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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925. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of functioning Garda stations in County Tipperary in each year since 2015. [42609/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management of the Garda Estate. Further, the programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda accommodation is progressed by the Garda authorities working in close cooperation with the Office of Public Works (OPW), which has the responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are thirty-seven Garda Stations in the Tipperary Division, a figure which has remained constant since 2015. The following table, comprising information provided to me by the Garda authorities, outlines the breakdown of Garda Stations in the Tipperary division.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that it should be noted that while there are 37 stations attached to the Division, owing to the requirement for significant and large scale remedial works in Shevry, Moyne and Templederry, these three premises over the period 2015 to date have been deemed not suitable to function as Garda Stations.