Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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536. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the total strength of An Garda Síochána, by region and division for each of the years 2011 to date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5712/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda organisation is central to this policy. The Garda Vote in Budget 2025 saw unprecedented funding of over €2.48 billion for this year, a 27% increase since 2020 which is supporting the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff.

While the Garda Commissioner is operationally responsible for the allocation of Garda resources, I look forward to engaging regularly with him to ensure our Gardaí have the resources they need. I am informed that when allocating and transferring Garda members to and from any Division, consideration is given to commitments and undertakings outlined in the Annual Policing Plan.

I understand that the requirements of all Garda Divisions nationwide are also taken into account, which include:

• 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.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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537. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of emergency calls made to An Garda Síochána reporting domestic abuse in each of the years 2011 to date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5713/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Combatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is a priority for this Government, for the Department and for the Garda Commissioner. 'Zero Tolerance,' the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV), set out an ambitious five-year programme of reform to achieve a society which does not accept DSGBV or the attitudes which underpin these crimes.The Strategy, which was co-designed with the sector, also has a significant focus on improving the system for victims of these terrible crimes and on ensuring there is a full range of supports and services available nationwide to support and empower victims and survivors.

An Garda Síochána and my Department are continuing to work hard to strengthen trust and confidence in the system, so that victims will feel confident in coming forward to report what has happened to them and get justice.

An Garda Síochána prioritise and proactively respond to incidents of domestic abuse and the nationwide roll out of Divisional Protective Service Units (DPSUs) ensures 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. There is now a DPSU in every Garda Division.

Legislative action has also been taken to combat all forms of domestic, sexual and gender based violence, including by introducing new offences of stalking and non-fatal strangulation and by doubling to 10 years the maximum sentence for assault causing harm, one of the most common offences in domestic violence cases.

An Garda Síochána have provided the following breakdown of domestic abuse incidents, by Garda Division, for the period 2020 to 2024. A similar breakdown for years prior to 2020 is not available.

One of the key objectives in the Zero Tolerance Strategy is to encourage victims of domestic violence to come forward and to report the crimes that are being committed against them. This is an important step because historically there has been an under reporting of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. I want to reassure anyone who is a victim, or at risk of, domestic or sexual abuse that help continues to be available. I urge anyone who is in fear or danger due to domestic abuse or any other crime, to please contact the Gardaí as soon as you can do so safely.

Annual breakdown of Domestic Abuse Incidents between 2020 and 2024

The data specific to this request is operational and subject to change.