Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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469. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of additional gardaí in County Clare since 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3263/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including responsibility for the recruitment, training and deployment of Garda members. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

I can however assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and a strengthened Garda Síochána is at the centre of that.

Since 2015, the budget for An Garda Síochána has increased by approximately €672m, or 46%. This has allowed for sustained and ongoing recruitment and as Minister, I am committed to delivering the necessary resources to bring the number of Gardaí to 15,000 and beyond.

Since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014 a total of 4,029 Garda members have attested, this includes the 369 Probationers who attested in 2022 and the 24 Probationers who attested on the 13 January 2023.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the table below sets out the number of Garda members assigned to Clare Division at 31 December 2021 and 31 December 2022.

I am further informed that the number of Garda staff assigned to Clare Division increased by over 4% during this period.

Clare Division

This increase in Garda staff numbers means that as well as new Gardaí assigned to the Division, additional Gardaí can be redeployed from administrative to operational policing duties, where their training and policing expertise can be used to best effect.

The tables in the attached spreadsheet which have been provided to me by the Garda authorities, set out the number of Gardaí who were assigned to Clare Division by District and station at end December 2021 and at end December 2022, the latest date for which figures are available.

Please note that this information is based upon operational data which has been provided by An Garda Síochána and may be liable to change.

For the Deputy's information, detailed statistics on Garda workforce numbers are published on my Department's website and can be accessed using the following link:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/bd777-an-garda-siochana-your-police-service-some-facts-and-figures/