Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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64. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the up-to-date position on implementing the new policing model in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18079/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the distribution of Garda personnel and resources between the different Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no role in these operational matters.

I can advise the Deputy that the new Garda Operating Model reflects and addresses the challenges of modern policing by enabling specialisation in the delivery of key services and freeing up more Gardaí to focus on front line policing.

The development and introduction of the Operating Model was a recommendation by both the Garda Inspectorate and the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland (CoFPI) and is a key element of delivering its implementation plan, ‘A Policing Service for the Future’.

Its focus is on community policing based on local needs consistent with the objective of “Keeping People Safe” by working closely with wider services to prevent crime and support vulnerable people.

Each Division will for the first time have a Superintendent dedicated to Crime, a Superintendent dedicated to Governance and Performance Assurance, and a number of Superintendents in charge of Community Engagement (day-to-day policing).

Under the new Model, An Garda Síochána has committed to ensuring Superintendents will be in locations throughout a Division and not all located in the Divisional Headquarters. There will also be more Garda Sergeants and Inspectors deployed to the front line, where they can lead and supervise their teams, rather than being overburdened with administrative issues.

The new Operating Model is currently being rolled out in all divisions and is fully commenced in six - Dublin South Central, Cork City, Kerry, Galway, Limerick and Mayo-Roscommon-Longford. For these divisions it means:

- Districts replaced with Community Engagement Functional Areas.

- Crime Functional Area established in each Division.

- All Personnel aligned to a Functional Area.

- Garda Stations Aligned to Community Engagement Functional Areas.

I am advised by the Commissioner that An Garda Síochána are planning for the continued rollout of the Operating Model during 2023, in consultation with the relevant stakeholders.

The Garda authorities have also indicated that the plan will include the continued roll out in the remaining divisions along with the implementation of the regional office standardised processes in the four regions during 2023.