Written answers

Tuesday, 27 September 2022

Department of Justice and Equality

An Garda Síochána

Photo of Peadar TóibínPeadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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375. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Gardaí per capita in each county in the State; and if she will ensure that she facilitates the increase of Garda resources into counties that have had the largest increase in population as a result of the latest Census data. [46687/22]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen 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 the unprecedented allocation of over €2 billion provided for in 2022.

As you 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. This includes responsibility for the deployment of Garda members throughout the State. As Minister, I have no role such matters.

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

I am advised by the Garda authorities that on 31 August 2022, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 14,283 Garda members across the country. The table below outlines the Garda strength per head of population by county as of 31 August 2022.

The Garda authorities further advise that the table below contains preliminary figures provided by the Central Statistics Office for Census 2022.

Garda Strength 31/08/2022 Preliminary 2022 figures Ratio - 1 member per
CARLOW 112 61,931 553
CAVAN 206 81,201 394
CLARE 312 127,419 408
CORK TOTAL (City, North, West) 1,348 581,231 431
DMR Total (North, N Central, South, S Central, East, West) 3,912 1,450,701 371
DONEGAL 448 166,321 371
GALWAY 618 276,451 447
KERRY 349 155,258 445
KILDARE 441 246,977 560
KILKENNY 221 103,685 469
LAOIS 219 91,657 418
LEITRIM 105 35,087 334
LIMERICK 600 205,444 342
LONGFORD 139 46,634 335
LOUTH 404 139,100 344
MAYO 321 137,231 427
MEATH 330 220,296 668
MONAGHAN 179 64,832 362
OFFALY 165 82,668 501
ROSCOMMON 159 69,995 440
SLIGO 190 69,819 367
TIPPERARY 399 167,661 420
WATERFORD 381 127,085 334
WESTMEATH 254 95,840 377
WEXFORD 340 163,527 481
WICKLOW 310 155,485 502
Total Operational Divisions Strength 12,462 5,123,536 411
Headquarters, College & National/Specialist units 1,821 5,123,536 2,814
TOTAL STRENGTH 14,283 5,123,536 359

As the Deputy will appreciate, Garda numbers nationwide can be affected by a number of factors, including retirements, medical discharges and resignations. The impact of policing measures and other steps to support the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic has also had an exceptional impact across the country over the past two years

Photo of Peadar TóibínPeadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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376. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the ten largest towns in the State without a Garda station; and the ten largest towns in the State without a full-time Garda station. [46688/22]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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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. As Minister, I have no role.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána does not hold the information as requested in the Deputy's question.

For the Deputy's information, and in the interest of transparency, detailed figures relating to the Garda workforce are published on my Department's website and updated every month.

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

Photo of Peadar TóibínPeadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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377. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the detection rates for each crime area or Garda division for each of the past five years. [46689/22]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of all crime statistics. The CSO produces these statistics using data recorded on An Garda Síochána’s PULSE system and makes regular releases under reservation in relation to various crime statistics. The CSO also continues to work with An Garda Síochána to address quality issues in the underlying sources used to compile the statistics.

The Deputy may be interested to note that crime statistics are available on the CSO website www.cso.ie. The recorded crime statistics show crime trends in each Garda region, division and station.

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