Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 861 and 862 together.

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 for the recruitment, training and deployment of Garda members. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda Síochána is central to this policy. This commitment is demonstrated by the unprecedented provision of over €2.14 billion to the Garda Vote this year, which is allowing for sustained and ongoing recruitment and investment in new equipment and new vehicles.

This level of funding provides for a steady pipeline of new Gardaí in the coming years, supporting the recruitment of up to 1,000 Gardaí and 400 additional Garda staff this year, with new recruits to enter the Garda College approximately every 11 weeks.

I am assured that the Commissioner keeps the allocation of these resources under continued review, in line with crime and population trends, to ensure their optimum use.

As the Deputy is aware both Ballymun and Santry Garda stations are located within the DMR North Division. I am informed by the Garda authorities that, as of the end of April 2023, a total of 759 Garda members and 69 Garda staff were assigned to DMR North Division. This represents respective increases of 14% and 57% since end December 2015.

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.

Coupled with further reassignments of Gardaí to operational front-line policing and the continued roll out of the new Operating Model with its core focus on community policing, I am confident that the Commissioner has suitable resources and plans in place to continue to deliver on An Garda Síochána's mission of keeping people safe.

I am further advised that as of the same date there were 130 Garda members assigned to Ballymun Garda Station, which represents an increase of 5% since the end of December 2015, and 82 Garda members assigned to Santry Garda station. This is consistent with the numbers assigned to Santry Garda station at the end of December 2015.

I understand that it is a matter for the Divisional Chief Superintendent to determine the optimum distribution of duties among the personnel available to them, having regard to the profile of each area within the Division and its specific needs.

For the Deputy's information, the attached table which was provided to me by An Garda Síochána sets out the number of Gardaí assigned to the DMR North Division at the end of April 2023, the latest date for which figures are available, by District and Station.

In the interest of transparency, detailed statistics on Garda workforce numbers are published on gov.ie and are updated regularly by my Department from information provided by An Garda Síochána. The statistics can be accessed using the following link:

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

GARDA STATISTICS MONTH ENDING 30 April 2023