Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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459. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality for an update on Laytown Garda station; the number of hours it is open per day each week; the number of gardaí working from the station and any other relevant details; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41535/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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It has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy in the time available.

I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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460. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of unmarked Garda vans allocated to the Meath division as of 8 October 2024 and as of 8 October 2022, in tabular form. [41536/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the distribution of Garda resources, including vehicles. As Minister I have no role in these matters, but I am assured by the Commissioner that this distribution is kept under constant review, in light of operational needs.

Garda funding has increased by over €500m, up 27% since 2020, bringing the total budget to €2.48 billion for 2025, building on the unprecedented allocations of over €2 billion for 2023 and €2.35 billion for 2024. This consistent funding demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring An Garda Síochána has provision to maintain the resources it needs to carry out its vital policing work.

There are now over 3,500 Garda vehicles. This is the largest fleet ever available to An Garda Síochána and represents a 34% increase since 2015.

While the Commissioner is responsible for the deployment of Garda members throughout the State, I am assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of policing priorities and crime trends.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that as of 30 September this year, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 147 Garda vehicles assigned to the Meath/Westmeath Garda Division under the new Garda Operating Model. This total includes 73 marked and 43 unmarked Garda cars. As of 28 October 2022, there were 64 Garda vehicles assigned to the then Meath Division, including 35 marked and 16 unmarked Garda cars.

The Deputy may also wish to be aware that An Garda Síochána publishes information about the Garda Fleet on its website, and this is updated with monthly fleet reports, including a breakdown of vehicles assigned to each Garda Division:

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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461. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality , further to Parliamentary Question No. 364 of 8 October 2024, which stated that there are 14 community gardaí in Louth, the number of community gardaí in Louth in each of the years, 2017 to 2024. [41537/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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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.

The new model will provide more frontline Gardaí and increased Garda visibility, and will deliver a wider range of policing services for people in their local area. It will divide service delivery within divisions 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 me 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.

There is an interactive map on the Garda website which is designed to allow the public to identify the local CPT in their area. This map will continue to develop in line with the continued rollout of the new Garda Operating Model.

Budget 2025 provides the highest ever allocation to An Garda Síochána – over €2.48 billion which is a 27% increase since 2020. This funding allows for the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that as of the end of June 2024, the latest date for when figures are available, the number of Community Gardaí assigned to the Louth Division in each year from 2017, to date in 2024, are as follows:

At the end of June this year, the latest date for which published figures are available, there were 707 Garda members assigned to Cavan-Monaghan-Louth Division. This represents an increase of over 16% since the end of 2015.

For the Deputy's information, the number of Community Gardaí by Division from 2008 until June 2024 is published on my Department's website and can be accessed using the following link:

Please be advised that this information is operational and may be subject to change.