Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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688. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí by rank attached to each divisional protective services unit as of 11 October 2021. [50565/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, Divisional Protective Services Units (DPSUs) support the delivery of a consistent and professional approach to the investigation of sexual and domestic crime. Personnel assigned to DPSUs have been provided with a bespoke training course consisting of a number of modules addressing issues such as: investigation of sexual crime; child protection; investigation of domestic abuse; online child exploitation and sex offender management.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) for the deployment of An Garda Síochána throughout the State as well as for the management and administration of Garda business, including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. As Minister, I play no direct 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.

The table below, which I have been provided with by the Garda authorities, shows the number of Garda members attached to Divisional Protective Services Units as at 11 October 2021.