John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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1076. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí in County Wicklow; the stations in which they have been located in each of the years 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37315/23]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can assure the Deputy the Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and the 2023 budget of over €2 billion will allow for the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff with Garda recruits entering Templemore every 11 weeks.

Overall, since 2015 there has been an almost 9% net increase in the number of Gardaí. These Gardaí are supported by around 3,140 Garda staff, which is over 56% more than the number of staff in 2015. This increases the availability of Gardaí to concentrate on front-line policing duties.

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 distribution and stationing of the Garda Síochána throughout the State. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.

I am however assured by the Commissioner that this distribution is kept under review in light of emerging crime trends and policing needs.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that there were 295 Garda members assigned to Wicklow Division at the end of July 2023, the latest date for which figures are available. These Garda members are supported by 30 Garda staff which represents an increase of over 15% since 2017.

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

The tables appended to this answer provide the number of Garda members by rank who were assigned to Wicklow Garda Division at the end of December 2021, at the end of December 2022, and at 31 July of this year, the latest date for which figures are available.

The Deputy will wish to be aware that 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/

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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1077. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda patrol vehicles in County Wicklow; the stations in which they have been located in each of the years 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37316/23]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to deliver a modern, fit-for-purpose, policing service. Budget 2023 provides funding in excess of €2.1 billion for An Garda Síochána, of which €10m has been allocated for investment in the Garda fleet.

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 purchase, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda vehicles. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

I am assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use.

The tables below, which were provided to me by the Garda authorities, set out the number of vehicles assigned to Wicklow Division by district at the end of December 2021 and 2022, and on the 31 August 2023, the latest date for when figures are available. I am informed that the Garda authorities do not provide vehicle allocations by Garda Station for security reasons.

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

The Deputy may also wish to be aware that An Garda Síochána publish information on Garda fleet, including a Divisional/District monthly breakdown, on their website at:www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/finance-services/finance-fleet-management.html

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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1078. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of community gardaí in County Wicklow; the stations in which they have been located in each of the years 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37317/23]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I want to emphasise that community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána, and that all Gardaí have a role to play in community policing in the course of carrying out their duties.

Indeed, 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.

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 distribution of Garda members between the different Garda units and Divisions. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.

I am however assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review to ensure their optimal use.

The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda Síochána is central to this policy. Funding has been provided for up to 1,000 new Gardaí this year and we are seeing more Garda recruits enter Templemore every 11 weeks.

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 front-line 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.

The table below, which was provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the location of all Community Gardaí assigned to Wicklow Division at the end of December 2021 and 2022, and at the end of July 2023, 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.

The Deputy will wish to be aware that 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/