Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The unprecedented allocation of over €2.3 billion to An Garda Síochána for 2024 demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring the Gardaí have provision for the equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and personnel it needs to carry out vital policing work. Following Budget 2024, I announced that this allocation would allow for the recruitment of between 800 to 1,000 new Garda recruits.

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 however 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.

Community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána, and all Gardaí have a role to play in community policing in the course of carrying out their duties. Community policing is also fundamental to the new Garda Operating Model which is currently being rolled out in all divisions and is fully commenced in seven.

The new model will provide more front-line Gardaí, increased Garda visibility, and a wider range of policing services for people in their local area. It will divide service delivery within division into four functional areas, one of them being Community Engagement. This will allow for a greater focus on community policing in all divisions.

Garda authorities have advised 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.

It is important to note that community safety is not just about the number of Gardaí in communities. Community safety is a whole of Government responsibility and it requires a multi-agency approach. The Government is providing significant additional resources to An Garda Síochána, including to support recruitment to CPT teams nationwide.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that as of 30 September 2023, the latest date for when figures are available, there were 67 Community Gardaí assigned to the DMR North. This represents an increase of over 42% since the end of December 2017.

I am further advised that as of the same date there were 13 Community Gardaí assigned to Coolock Garda station, 12 Gardaí and 1 Sergeant. This represents an increase of almost 86% since the end of December 2017.

Further detailed information in relation to Garda numbers, including Community Policing, is available on my Department’s website. This information is updated every month with the latest data provided by An Garda Síochána, and includes the number of Gardaí by station across the whole country.

The information can be found at 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)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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.

As the deputy will be aware, 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.

I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that when consideration is given to the allocation of resources (including newly attested Probationer Gardaí, personnel being allocated to specialist units, e.g. Roads Policing, Community Policing, Divisional Protective Services Units, Divisional Drug Units, etc.) and in facilitating transfers of personnel to/from any Division, account is given to commitments and undertakings outlined in the Annual Policing Plan and priorities as determined in delivering ‘A Policing Service for The Future’.

Also taken into account in the context of the requirements of all Garda Divisions nationwide, are local and national crime trends and workloads; policing arrangements and operational strategies; minimum establishment statistics; local population and trends, geographical area and size; transfer applications, including welfare / personnel issues and concerns.

To ensure the continued level of delivery of policing services within Garda Divisions, local and Senior Garda Management are also consulted during the allocation of personnel and are responsible for the specific deployment/assignment of duties being undertaken at Divisional level.

The situation remains closely monitored by the Garda Senior Leadership Team, particularly in view of commitments to the continued roll-out of the Operating Model of policing at Divisional level to ensure optimum use of all Garda Resources in providing the best possible Garda service to the community.

The table below shows the number of Garda members attached to Regional DPSUs as at 06/10/2023.

DPSU 06/10/2023	Detective Inspector	Inspector	Detective Sergeant	Sergeant	Detective Garda	Garda	Total
DMR	*		16		89		111
Eastern Region	*	*	15		65	*	87
Southern Region	*		15		60	*	79
North Western Region	*		10		63		77
Total	16	*	56		277	*	354

*denotes less than 10

In view of the policy of not providing numbers less than 10, the data was rolled up to Regional Level to facilitate the release of Garda numbers.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The unprecedented allocation of over €2 billion for 2023 and €2.3 billion for 2024 to An Garda Síochána, up 23 per cent since 2020, demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring An Garda Síochána has provision for the equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and personnel it needs to carry out vital policing work.

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.

Garda authorities have informed me that at the end of October 2023 there were 3,440 vehicles assigned to the Garda fleet. This represents an increase of over 10% since the end of December 2020 when there were 3,112 vehicles attached to the Garda fleet nationwide.

I am advised that no motorcycles were assigned or removed from the Roads Policing Unit in 2022.

I am further advised that 12 motorcycles were assigned to, and 3 motorcycles were removed from, the Roads Policing Unit in 2023, up to 31 October.

I am informed that the figures provided are operational and may be subject to change.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 in relation to various crime statistics. The most recent statistics were released on 25 September 2023, providing stats for Recorded Crime for Quarter 2 (Q2) 2023.

I understand that the "G District" referred to by the Deputy relates to Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) South Division. Figures in respect of conspiracy to kidnap offences reported to Gardaí in the DMR South Division, can be found on the CSO website at the following link: data.cso.ie/table/CJQ06

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 in relation to various crime statistics. The most recent statistics were released on 25 September 2023, providing stats for Recorded Crime for Quarter 2 (Q2) 2023.

Figures in respect of unauthorised taking of mechanically propelled vehicle offences reported to Gardaí in the "E District" which is the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) South Central Division, can be found on the CSO website at the following link: data.cso.ie/table/CJQ06