John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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35. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of community gardaí currently serving in the Dublin south division; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52183/22]

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 provided in Budget 2023 of €2.14 billion.This unprecedented amount will fund the planned recruitment of up to 1,000 new Garda recruits as well as over 400 Garda staff.

While the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the general management and administration of the Garda organisation, I am assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review 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 further advised that there are no set requirements to have a specific number of Community Gardaí posts across the Divisions.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that on 31 August 2022, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 54 Community Gardaí assigned to the DMR South. This represents an increase of 35% since December 2017 when there were 40 Community Gardaí assigned to the Division.

The table below, which has been provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of Community Gardaí assigned to the DMR South by station and by rank at 31 August 2022, the latest date for which figures are available.

To date, the official categorisation as a Community Garda has simply referred to those who are exclusively assigned to building relationships with local communities and civil society, including giving talks to schools, community groups and others. It is important to note, however, that community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána and that all Gardaí have a role to play in community policing in the course of carrying out their duties.

Indeed, this is fundamental to the new Garda Operating Model recommended by the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland and currently being rolled out under 'A Policing Service for Our Future', the Government's implementation plan for the Commission's recommendations.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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36. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new gardaí who have been recruited to date in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52412/22]

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 allocation provided in Budget 2023 of €2.14 billion, an increase of €78 million on last year. This unprecedented amount will fund the recruitment of up to 1,000 new Garda recruits as well as over 400 Garda staff.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that at the end of August this year, there are 14,283 Garda members, supported by over 3,117 whole time equivalent Garda staff. This represents an increase of almost 12% since 2015 when there were 12,816 Garda members throughout the country.

I am further informed that a total of 369 new Garda members have attested from the Garda college this year.

The latest recruitment campaign for An Garda Síochána in 2022 saw more than 11,000 people express interest in joining the service and the first successful candidates from the campaign will enter the Garda college at the end of November this year. Another campaign will open next year to help ensure consistent entry of recruits into the Garda college.