Written answers
Thursday, 14 July 2022
Department of Justice and Equality
An Garda Síochána
Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
654. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 299 of 12 May 2022, if she has yet received the information she sought from An Garda Síochána given the fact that two months have elapsed since the question was asked; if she will follow up on this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39046/22]
Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
Both the Government and the Garda Commissioner are committed to increasing diversity within An Garda Síochána and ensuring that all communities can see themselves reflected in our police service.
The Deputy may be aware that the last Garda recruitment competition prior to the 2022 competition, was held in 2019. I am advised by the Garda authorities that the below table provides the breakdown by ethnicity of applicants for the 2019 competition. This was the first time applicant's ethnicity was recorded. It should be noted that the information provided by candidates was anonymous and non-mandatory.
| Ethnicity | Total | % |
|---|---|---|
| White - Irish | 4554 | 87.6 |
| White - Irish Traveller | 14 | 0.27 |
| White - Any other white background | 347 | 6.68 |
| Asian or Asian Irish - Any other Asian | 68 | 1.31 |
| Asian or Asian Irish - Chinese | 7 | 0.13 |
| Black or Black Irish - African | 23 | 0.44 |
| Black or Black Irish - Any other Black | 8 | 0.15 |
| Other including mixed background | 37 | 0.71 |
| Other | 38 | 0.73 |
| Prefer not to say | 101 | 1.94 |
| Total | 5197 | 100 |
I am further advised that diversity information relating to individuals recruited into An Garda Síochána as part of this competition was not recorded, and ethnicity records are not available as a result.
In the current 2022 competition, diversity records will be collected from application through recruitment and appointment in line with action 08a of An Garda Síochána’s Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Strategy Statement & Action Plan 2020 – 2021.
Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
655. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí stationed in the Cavan Monaghan division in each of the past five years; the rank of each of these gardaí, the unit in which each of these gardaí serve; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39119/22]
Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
656. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí currently stationed in the Cavan Monaghan division; the rank of each of these gardaí, the unit in which each of these gardaí serve; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39120/22]
Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
I propose to take Questions Nos. 655 and 656 together.
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. As Minister, I have no role in these matters.
For the Deputy's information the attached spreadsheet, which was provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of Gardaí assigned to Cavan/Monagan Division at end December 2017 up to end December 2021, and at 31 May 2022 the latest date for when figures are available. At the end of May 2022, there were 385 Gardaí assigned to this division, which was an increase of 56 Gardaí (or 17%) on the number assigned to this division at the end of 2017.
I hope the Deputy will appreciate that, for sound operational and security reasons, An Garda Síochána does not provide information on specialist units by Garda Division.
However, the tables below which have been provided to me by the Garda authorities set out the number of Gardaí assigned to the Cavan/ Monaghan Divisional Drugs Unit and Roads Policing duties at end December 2017 up to end December 2021, and at 31 May 2022, the latest date for when figures are available.
| CAVAN / MONAGHAN - ROADS POLICING | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 31/05/2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Gardaí assigned | 18 | 26 | 22 | 18 | 18 | 16 |
| CAVAN / MONAGHAN - DIVISIONAL DRUGS UNIT | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 31/05/ 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Gardaí assigned | 5 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, with the unprecedented allocation provided in Budget 2022 of over €2 billion.
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.
In the interests of transparency, further detailed information in relation to Garda numbers can be found 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
No comments