Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

253. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Gardaí, by rank, attached to the community policing unit of each station in DMR West, south and south central as of 1 June 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26184/24]

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

As the Deputy is aware, 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 across the country and is fully commenced in thirteen Garda divisions.

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 the division into four functional areas, one of the most important areas being Community Engagement. This will allow for a greater, more consistent focus on community policing in all divisions.

The Garda authorities have advised that a member of An Garda Síochána can be deemed to be a ‘Community Garda’ where that person 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. Examples of this engagement are working with Neighbourhood Watch, Community Alert, or local business fora.

Community Policing Teams strategically manage and lead the development, delivery and evaluation of the Garda Community Policing Framework. Like most Garda members, those assigned to CPTs have dual functions. In addition to their strategic roles in their Community Policing Teams, part of which requires them to regularly update their Community Engagement Superintendent on the policing needs of their community, they are also frontline members. It is also important to note that CPTs draw on all frontline Gardaí to carry out community policing.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that there were 707 Community Gardaí nationwide at the end of March 2024, the latest date for when figures are available. This represents an increase of 12.5% since the end of 2023.

I am also informed that the table below sets out the number of Community Gardaí assigned to the DMR West Division, DMR South Central Division and the DMR South Division by station on 31 March 2024. Please note that these figures are operational and may be subject to change.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

254. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to provide an update on the initiatives of by An Garda Síochána and her Department to tackle increasing levels of anti-social behaviour in Dublin city; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26185/24]

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

The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities – and strengthening An Garda Síochána is at the core of that. I continue to provide An Garda Síochána with the resources it needs to ensure communities in Dublin and around Ireland are safe and feel safe. Budget 2024 provides the highest ever allocation to An Garda Síochána – over €2.35 billion which is a 25% increase since 2020. This funding allows for the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff.

Last year, I provided additional funding to the Commissioner for overtime in Dublin and it is important to note that the overall Garda overtime budget for 2024 is a substantial increase on last year.

I have been assured by the Commissioner that he has the resources to police the city and that additional resources continue to be deployed.

Additional permanent full-time Gardaí have been assigned to Dublin. 165 new recruits attested at the end of March, and 101 of these were assigned to support policing in Dublin.

While the distribution of Garda members and resources is an operational matter for the Commissioner, I am assured that he continues to supplement resources in Dublin from neighbouring regions as needed, and particularly for public order policing.

The deployment of the Garda National Public Order Unit (GNPOU) remains increased with a full GNPOU deployed Sunday to Friday inclusive, and two Units deploying on Saturdays, or where a risk identifies the requirement for additional units. Members performing duty with the Public Order Unit provide tactical support as well as a graduated policing response to appropriate incidents, while effectively assisting frontline Gardaí.

I am informed that there are a number of Garda Operations taking place in Dublin to deter crime. These include:

• Operation Citizen which continues to reassure the citizens, visitors and the business community in Dublin City Centre that it is a safe place in which to visit, socialise, conduct business and enjoy its amenities;
• Operation Saul which aims to provide a safe environment for commuters utilising public transport services in the Dublin Metropolitan Region;
• Operation Thor which targets criminals engaged in burglaries;
• Operation Táirge targeting Retail Theft;
• Operation Tara tackling street level drug-dealing.

• providing An Garda Síochána with its largest ever budget to support a highly visible Garda presence on our streets;
• giving An Garda Síochána the tools and technology to fight crime in a digital era by rolling out improved CCTV and body worn cameras (the first of which have been deployed in the Dublin Metropolitan Region Central Divisions);
• increasing a range of maximum sentences including for assault causing harm and assaulting a peace officer;
• increasing the number of judges to improve the efficiency of the courts, and increasing prison space through four capital projects at Castlerea, Cloverhill, the Midlands and Mountjoy prisons.