Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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1282. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the additional policing measures that will put in place at Lisdoonvarna, County Clare given the 300% increase in the population; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20192/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, with an unprecedented allocation provided in Budget 2022 of over €2 billion. As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, which includes decisions on the deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. The Commissioner is also responsible for the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff under the Act. As Minister, I have no direct role in these independent functions. 

I am assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of policing priorities and crime trends, to ensure their optimum use. The full complement of resources fluctuates on an ongoing basis and where a deficiency in resources is identified, the matter is considered fully and addressed accordingly.

I understand that it is a matter for the Divisional Chief Superintendent to determine the optimum distribution of duties among the personnel available to them, having regard to the profile of each area within the division and its specific needs. 

As the Deputy is aware, the population increase in Lisdoonvarna is a result of accommodating families who have been displaced due to the war in Ukraine. These families are mostly women and children. I am advised that no policing issues have arisen to date and that no additional policing measures are required to be implemented in Lisdoonvarna at this time. I am further advised that the situation continues to be monitored and engagement with all the communities will continue.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that at 31 March 2022, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 314 Garda members and 49 Garda staff assigned to Clare Division. This represents respective increases of 7.5% and 58% since December 2012, when there were 292 Gardaí and 31 Garda staff assigned to the Division. 

In the interests of transparency, 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, and includes the number of Gardaí by station across the whole country.

The information can be found at the following link: www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/An_Garda_Siochana_facts_and_figures.

Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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1283. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will ensure a permanent presence of gardaí with Ukrainian language skills in Lisdoonvarna, County Clare given the increase in population numbers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20193/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, under Section 33 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the deployment of An Garda Síochána throughout the State. Additionally, the Commissioner is responsible under Section 26 of the Act for the management and administration of Garda business, including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. As Minister, I have no role in these matters.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that Gardaí, along with the Community Garda from Ennistymon Garda Station, are providing support to Ukrainian families in Lisdoonvarna and liaison groups. I am further advised that currently there are no members of An Garda Síochána with Ukrainian language skills attached to the Clare Division, however, in circumstances where a need arises, An Garda Síochána engage the services of an interpreter for interviewing victims of crime, providing legal rights and procedures to a detained person, interviewing suspects, identification parades, witness statements and specialist interviews.

I am informed that last month, Garda authorities developed and circulated an information leaflet for the Ukrainian Community in Ireland. This leaflet is available in Ukrainian, Russian and English and has been distributed to the Ukrainian families in Lisdoonvarna.

The leaflet can also be found at the following link on the Garda website and is available for distribution by Community Gardaí across the Country:

www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/office-of-corporate-communications/news-media/information-for-the-ukranian-community-25-3-22.html.