Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Parliamentary Questions No. 221, 222 and 223 of 28 September 2022 refer to the number of public order units operating across each of the six Garda divisions in Dublin from 2017 to 2022 inclusive; the number of public order units operating full-time across each of the six Garda divisions in Dublin from 2017 to 2022; and the number of Gardaí assigned to each of the public order units operating across each of the six Garda divisions in Dublin from 2017 to 2022 inclusive.

As you will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the general management and administration of the Garda organisation. This includes the deployment of Garda members throughout the State. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.

The Government is determined to tackle anti-social behaviour and I am very conscious of the impact it can have on the quality of life for local communities, including in Dublin.

The Government is making significant investments in making communities safer, diverting young people away from criminal activity, and also in supporting An Garda Síochána in its work to prevent, detect and address crime when it happens.

I understand that Gardaí continue to implement high visibility policing plans to address public disorder related issues and anti-social behaviour, with particular overt and targeted policing of public places at times when public order incidents and anti-social behaviour typically increase, such as bank holiday weekends.

You may wish to be aware that there are a number of Garda operations in place in Dublin city centre and the wider Dublin Metropolitan Region, including Operation Citizen, Operation Saul and Operation Soteria.

I am advised that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review to ensure their optimum use in light of identified operational needs and emerging crime trends.

I am also informed by the Garda authorities that members of the Garda National Public Order Unit (GNPOU) in the DMR are deployed on an operational needs basis, drawing on specially trained and equipped Gardaí attached to core, non-core and specialist sections within each of the six geographical Divisions, rather than in the form of full-time units within each Division.

I am advised that recertification GNPOU training is currently underway with plans in place to deliver basic training to interested applicants in the DMR who meet the standard and fitness requirements. I understand this training will increase the GNPOU capacity in the DMR.

The table below, provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of Gardaí assigned to public order units operating across in Dublin from 2017 to 2022.