Written answers

Wednesday, 19 March 2025

Department of Justice and Equality

An Garda Síochána

Photo of Claire KerraneClaire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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1118. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Gardaí assigned to County Offaly, by rank, in each of the years from 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11303/25]

Photo of Jim O'CallaghanJim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the recruitment, training and deployment of Garda members. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions and am unable to seek to direct, or otherwise influence, the Commissioner in such matters.

A strengthened, well-resourced Garda Síochána is central to the Government's policy of building stronger, safer communities, which is reaffirmed in the Programme for Government commitment to prioritise investment across the justice system, including in An Garda Síochána.

The unprecedented allocation of over €2.48 billion for 2025 to An Garda Síochána demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring An Garda Síochána has provision for the resources it needs to carry out its vital policing work.

I am 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.

Resource allocation is considered in the context of the Operating Model, which is a key commitment in A Policing Service for our Future, the implementation plan giving effect to the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland published in 2018.

The model is designed to make changes to the structures of An Garda Síochána to release frontline Gardaí from roles that can effectively be carried out by civilian Garda Staff resulting in increased Garda visibility, and a wider range of policing services for people in their local area.

For the Deputy's information, and 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/

This link includes the information requested by the Deputy on the number of Garda members assigned to the Laois/Offaly Division and the constituent Districts at the end of December 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and at the end of January 2025, the latest date for which figures are available.

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