Written answers

Tuesday, 6 December 2022

Department of Justice and Equality

An Garda Síochána

Photo of Jim O'CallaghanJim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

457. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a breakdown of the number of additional gardaí hired since 27 June 2020, by county, in tabular form. [60283/22]

Photo of Jim O'CallaghanJim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

468. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of members currently in An Garda Síochána; and the number of members in An Garda Síochána on 27 June 2020. [60590/22]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 457 and 468 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.

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.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014 a total of 4,500 Probationer Gardaí have attested, this includes the 1,039 probationer Gardaí who attested in 2020, 2021 and 2022 (a monthly breakdown is not available).

The table below which has been provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of probationer Gardaí who were assigned to Garda stations nationwide from 2015 to 8 July 2022, the date of the last attestation. Please note that this information is based upon operational data which has been provided by An Garda Síochána and may be liable to change.

The Deputy will appreciate that while Garda numbers have continued to grow over recent years, this growth stalled in 2022 due to the closure of the Garda college for much of 2020 and 2021 as a result of Covid-19, which had a knock on impact throughout the recruitment process. I am pleased to say that a new competition commenced earlier this year and the first new trainees from this competition entered the college last month, with more classes to come on stream over the course of 2023. Upon completion of the training programme, these trainees will attest as probationer Gardaí and be assigned to Garda duties.

Year 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Total
Total number of Probationer Gardaí 296 393 883 789 605 522 148 369 4,005
For the Deputy's information, detailed statistics on Garda workforce numbers, including a full breakdown of probationer Gardaí by Division and station are published on my Department's website and can be accessed using the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/7c2e6-probationer-gardai/.

Photo of Jim O'CallaghanJim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

458. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a breakdown of the details of all new Garda stations built or existing stations refurbished since 27 June 2020, on a divisional basis in tabular form. [60284/22]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, and will contact him again when this is to hand.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.