Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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531. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the amount of revenue still owed to An Garda Síochána as of 3 July 2023 in respect of non-public duty events that occurred in 2022 and were policed by An Garda Síochána. [34233/23]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, under Section 30 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner may provide and charge for police services, including for events on private property or in areas open to the public.

Examples of the types of events for which police services may be provided under this section include sports fixtures, concerts, festivals and exhibitions, meetings and conferences, the making of films and television programmes and appearances of person/s likely to attract large gatherings or crowds, or escort for certain persons or property while in transit.

To be of assistance I sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána and have been advised that the current sum on record as owed to An Garda Síochána relating to such services for 2022 is just over €664,000.

I am also advised that invoices and reminders are issued on a regular basis for all outstanding sums, however, this is a matter for the Commissioner who is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business under Section 26 of the 2005 Act.

Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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532. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of van-personnel carrier courses that were held for gardaí within the Cavan-Monaghan Division in the years of 2022 and to-date in 2023, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34234/23]

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 including the training of Garda members. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the Van/Personnel Carrier Course is a standalone course in the Garda College.

The course is a week long in duration and is delivered for Category D1 licences. I can inform the Deputy that there were no van/personnel carrier courses held for Gardaí within the Cavan-Monaghan Division in the years of 2022 and to-date in 2023.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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533. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí, by rank assigned to DMR west; the breakdown of the vehicle fleet for the DMR; the number of civilian staff assigned to the DMR, by station in the DMR [34267/23]

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 allocation of over €2 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.

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.

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.

To be of assistance I sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána and have been advised that the figures in the table below set out the number of Garda members assigned to the DMR at the end of May 2023, the latest date for which figures are available. Please note that this information is operational and may be subject to change.

The table below sets out the number of Garda staff assigned to the DMR at end May 2023, the latest date for which figures are available. 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. Please note that this information is operational and may be subject to change.

The table below sets out the number of Garda vehicles assigned to the DMR at 30 June 2023, the latest date for which figures are available.

*The category 'others' refers to MPV, SUV, Minibus or Prisoner Conveyance Vehicles

In the interest of transparency, detailed statistics on Garda workforce numbers, including a breakdown by Garda station, 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/.

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 management and administration of Garda business, including the distribution and stationing of Garda members throughout the State, including to specialist units within the organisation. As Minister, I have no role in these independent, operational functions.

I am assured that the Garda Commissioner keeps the allocation of resources under continued review to ensure their optimum use. This takes into account factors including crime trends, operational strategies and local population figures.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that as of 31 May, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 670 Community Gardaí across the country. The table appended to this answer gives a breakdown of the Community Gardaí by Division and station nationwide as of the same date. The table below gives the number of Community Gardaí nationwide since 2016.

Community policing is fundamental to the new Garda Operating Model recommended by the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland and currently being rolled out under 'A Policing Service for Our Future', the Government's implementation plan for the Commission's recommendations.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that a member of An Garda Síochána can be deemed to be a ‘Community Garda’ where that member is allocated to a Community Policing Team (CPT) and is responsible and accountable for applying a problem–solving approach to appropriate crime and policing quality of life issues in a specified geographic area through partnership and engagement.

I am also advised that in some rural areas, the existing personnel will form CPTs. They will have dual functions as first responders and community policing members. Additionally, CPTs will be augmented by Community Support Gardaí who will perform frontline duties and will be assigned a particular Community Policing Area to support dedicated Community Gardaí.

I understand that each Division will have a number of CPTs assigned to it, consisting of an Inspector, Sergeant and Community Policing Gardaí. CPTs will prioritise engagement with communities for the delivery of long-term sustainable solutions to community needs.

Community Policing Strengths as on 31.05.23