Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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854. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide the current number of Gardaí assigned to Waterford Garda Division, broken down by rank and station, and to detail how these figures compare to staffing levels in 2011 and 2020. [23410/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that as of the end of February 2025, the latest date for when figures are available, there were 348 Garda members assigned to Waterford Garda Division. This includes 281 Garda, 50 Sergeants, 13 Inspectors, 3 Superintendents, and 1 Chief Superintendent.

I am informed that when allocating Garda members to and from any Division or station, consideration is given to commitments and undertakings outlined in the Annual Policing Plan and priorities as determined in delivering ‘A Policing Service for The Future’.

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.

In the interest of transparency, information in relation to the allocation of Garda members by Station, District, and Division from 2009 up to the latest available date for figures, is publicly available and can be found at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/bd777-an-garda-siochana-your-police-service-some-facts-and-figures/.

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

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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855. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of community Gardaí currently deployed in Waterford. [23411/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána and is something that all Garda members have a role in.

A member of An Garda Síochána is 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 community partnership and engagement. Examples of this engagement can include working with Neighbourhood Watch, Community Alert or local business fora.

The Garda Commissioner keeps the distribution of resources under continual review and I will be engaging regularly with him to ensure our Gardaí have the resources they need to keep our communities safe.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that as of February 2025, the latest date for when figures are available, there were 32 Community Gardaí deployed in Waterford.

In the interest of transparency, information in relation to the allocation of community Gardaí by Division is publicly available and can be found at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-justice/publications/community-policing/.

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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856. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a detailed update on the protective services unit in Waterford, including current staffing numbers, ranks and specialisms, and to report on gender- and sexual-based violence, coercive control and non-consensual sharing of intimate images reported in the division over the past three years, as well as the response measures in place to support victims and pursue prosecutions. [23415/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Combatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is a central priority for me.

'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.

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 to report what has happened to them and get justice.

The nationwide roll-out of Divisional Protective Service Units (DPSUs) has ensured 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 assistance.

There is now a DPSU in every Garda Division.

Staffing and training are operational matters for the Garda Commissioner but, to be of assistance, I requested the information sought by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána.

I am informed that there are currently 16 members of staff attached to the Protective Services Unit in Waterford including members of Detective Inspector, Detective Sergeant, and Detective Garda rank, as well as Specialist Child Interviewers and Garda Staff (Clerical Officers).

An Garda Síochána have also supplied the following data in relation to the Deputy’s queries around DSGBV, coercive control and non-consensual sharing of intimate images reported in the division.

Please note that certain matters such as ‘gender-based’ violence are not individually recorded as crimes or incidents.

The following table (Table 1) is the count of Sexual Incidents and Domestic Violence calls for the Waterford Division in the past 3 years. Harmful Communications and Coercive Control are included within the totals.

There were fewer than 10 incidents of Coercive Control reported during 2022 and 2023, and none reported in 2024.

Table 1 Sexual Incidents and Domestic Violence call

Table 2 Counts of Harmful Communication

I am informed by An Garda Síochána that any incident reported is subject to review at a daily Performance and Accountability Framework Meeting (PAF) and all reports and documents are reviewed.

Where appropriate, actions are assigned to a Detective Garda attached to the Divisional Protective Services Unit. Investigations are supervised by a Detective Sergeant, with oversight provided by a Senior Investigating Officer, of Detective Inspector rank.

All investigations are subject of an investigation file, the majority of which are forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for formal directions. Where directed, prosecutions are initiated at the earliest opportunity and the matter brought before the courts.

Furthermore, An Garda Síochána have advised that support for victims is initially provided by the assigned investigating members and victims are further referred to support groups, such as the Rape Crisis Centre, Women’s Aid, Oasis House Outreach support, Onein4, where applicable.

Specialist Interviewers are utilised and actively encouraged to reduce re-victimisation. The victim is further supported during the trial stage by Court Victim Support Services who provide direct and one to one support during trials. In many cases the victim will attend pre-trial conferences with prosecuting counsel and undertake a court visit prior to commencement of the court case.

As part of the trial process, special measures hearings (use of video link/intermediaries, etc.) are considered and if applicable the relevant application made to the courts.

As part of ongoing measures to support victims, Gardaí attached to the Divisional Protective Services Unit regularly attend liaison briefings with TUSLA, Sexual Assault Treatment Units (SATU) and the Rape Crisis Centre.

Investigating members liaise with Victims Support at Court (VSAC) to ensure further supports are available for victims around court attendance and giving evidence.