Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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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 billion to the Garda Vote this year, which is allowing for sustained and ongoing recruitment and investment in An Garda Síochána.

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 am however assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review. I am advised that this is considered in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure the optimum use of these resources.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the below table shows the estimated payroll and fixed subsistence cost for recruiting 1,500 full time Garda members in the years 2024 and 2025.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that year 1 figures include a basic training allowance for 33 weeks along with 19 weeks of post attestation salary, an estimation of certain fixed allowances and variable unsocial hours’ allowances, employer’s PRSI and an estimate of subsistence paid during the trainees' deployment to an operational station.

I am also informed year 2 figures include moving to point 2 of the pay scale one year after attestation and an estimation of certain fixed allowances and variable unsocial hours’ allowances and employer’s PRSI.

I understand that pay increases scheduled for 1 October 2023 are taken into consideration. Currently there are no pay increases agreed for 2024 and 2025.

I am advised that other potential costs including the cost of equipment and accommodation are not included. It should also be noted that the estimated figures do not take account of potential overtime costs or potential future pension costs.

I am also advised that figures are operational and subject to change, figures are an estimate only and not indicative of actual costs.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, 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 all human resource matters and recruitment. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.

However, to be of assistance I sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána and have been advised of the following information.

There were two competitions sanctioned for the Garda National Immigration Bureau in 2022, both of which are still in progress.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose this will also serve as a response to PQs 21700/23 and 25642/23 previously raised by the Deputy, to which I had been awaiting observations from An Garda Síochána.

Fear of harassment and violence should never be normalised and nobody should have to think about it as they go about their daily life. Combatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is a priority for this Government. This is reflected in a significant €9m increase in the Budget 2023 allocation and in the development of our policy and legislation.

Twelve months ago we published our Zero Tolerance strategy. It is an ambitious five-year programme of reform to achieve a society which does not accept domestic violence or the attitudes which underpin it.

The €363 million strategy is built on four pillars – Protection, Prevention, Prosecution and Policy Co-ordination – and the accompanying implementation plan contains 144 detailed actions to be implemented through new oversight structures.

As the Deputy may be aware, the nationwide roll-out of Divisional Protective Service Units (DPSUs), which was an action under both the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland and ‘Supporting a Victim's Journey’, has been completed.

There is now a DPSU in every Garda division across the country.

This is to ensure that when vulnerable victims of crimes such as domestic abuse and sexual violence present to Gardaí, they are met with a consistently high standard of specialist, sensitive, professional and expert assistance.

Having previously made enquiries of An Garda Síochána, I have now been informed that no central record exists in relation to the number of cases that each DPSU has dealt with in 2021, 2022 and to-date in 2023. I have been advised that to collate the information would require a disproportionate expenditure of Garda time and resources, in particular historical figures regarding case-loads.

I am further informed by An Garda Síochána that the Deputy's request has been explored and considered thoroughly by various sections within AGS where it was concluded that it is not possible to report with any reliability on the number of incidents assigned to DPSU staff in the past, due to the transfer and movement of staff due to promotion, and so on.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of all crime statistics. The CSO produces these statistics using data recorded on An Garda Síochána’s PULSE system and makes regular releases under reservation in relation to various crime statistics. The CSO also continues to work with An Garda Síochána to address quality issues in the underlying sources used to compile the statistics.

The Districts referred to by the Deputy are part of the Dublin Metropolitan Region (D.M.R.) North Division. The Garda R District (Coolock District) and the J District (Raheny District).

Figures in respect of "Attempts/threats to murder, assaults, harassments and related offences" and other criminal offences reported to Gardaí in the R and J Districts, can be found on the CSO website at the link below. However, it is worth noting that crime statistics for Q1 of 2023 are not yet available and are due to be published by the CSO in the coming weeks.

data.cso.ie/table/CJQ06

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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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, including all operational policing matters. As Minister, I have no role in these matters, nor can I direct the Commissioner with regard to them.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda Water Unit is a national resource based at Santry Garda Station, Dublin Metropolitan Region and Garycastle, Athlone, Co. Westmeath and is under the direction and control of Assistant Commissioner, Organised and Serious Crime and the strategic control of Detective Chief Superintendent, Operational Support Services and the operational control of Superintendent, Operational Support Services.

I am further informed the unit provides a full dive and marine capability throughout the State and responds to requests for assistance from within An Garda Síochána and relevant agencies. In the past year the Water Unit members have undergone recertification and training courses that were not undertaken during the Covid period due to restrictions.

I am advised one request for the Garda Water Unit to assist in a missing person search can result in the unit being deployed at a scene for a number of days.

The tables below, provided to me by the Garda authorities, outline the number of incidents that the Garda Water Unit was requested to attend in 2021 ,2022 and up to 21 June 2023.

2023 to date

2022

2021

It is worth noting the figures do not account for days involved in training, administration or maintenance of equipment/transport/vessels by the GWU.

I understand the patrol figures indicate the number of patrols carried out by GWU where there has been no request. These patrols are usually carried out on the waterways and marinas of the Dublin Bay area, River Shannon system including lakes and the midland lakes.

I am further advised the open days/community days should be considered as requests from An Garda Síochána personnel around the country.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, 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 the procurement of protective equipment such as ballistic vests. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that currently there is no tender advertised for the provision of protective body armour for An Garda Síochána. I am further advised that the Garda authorities are researching what is available in the market and working with operational personnel to identify what the organisational requirements are in advance of going out to tender.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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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.

I am however assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review. I am advised that this is considered in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure the optimum use of these resources.

As the Deputy will be aware, the nationwide rollout of Divisional Protective Service Units (DPSUs) - an action under both the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland and ‘Supporting a Victim's Journey’ - has been completed, meaning there is now a DPSU in operation in each of the 28 Garda Divisions across the country.

This action was taken in order to ensure that when vulnerable victims of crimes such as domestic abuse and sexual violence present to Gardaí, they are met with a consistently high standard of specialist, sensitive, professional and expert assistance.

I have been advised by the Commissioner that the estimated annual payroll cost of one detective inspector, one detective sergeant and two detective Gardaí is approximately €295,000.

This includes the estimated cost of salary, fixed allowances and employer’s PRSI and has been estimated using the midpoint of the current relevant Garda salary scales.

I am further advised that there may be additional costs for unsocial hours and any potential overtime paymentsare not included.

Future pension costs and non-pay related costs are not included in the estimated figures.