Written answers
Tuesday, 27 September 2022
Department of Justice and Equality
An Garda Síochána
Peadar 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]
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 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
Peadar 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]
Helen 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
Peadar 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]
Helen 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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