Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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430. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the proposals he has to increase resources for community Garda policing, which is a very highly regarded policing measure in communities throughout the country; if consideration will be given to the provision of additional resources for community policing to an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29341/26]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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This Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, with Budget 2026 providing unprecedented funding of €2.74 billion to support recruitment and staffing.

The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána under section 33 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, which includes the distribution and stationing of Garda personnel throughout the State. While I regularly engage with the Commissioner, I cannot direct him on the allocation of Gardaí as this matter is reserved to him by law.

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.

Recruitment into An Garda Síochána is gathering real momentum. I anticipate that as the number of Gardaí rises Garda management will have greater resources at their disposal to assign members to duties such as community policing.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that, as of 28 February 2026, there were 25 Community Gardaí allocated to Louth/Cavan/Monaghan Division. Three of these Community Gardaí are allocated to Cavan Station, which represents a 200% increase in allocation since 2020.

An Garda Síochána publishes information in relation to the allocation of Gardaí including the allocation of Community Gardaí by Division.

Information for 2026 can be found at the following link:

www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/human-resources-and-people-development/garda-hr-directorate/garda-strength-breakdown-2026/garda-strength-breakdown-2026.html

Information for previous years can be found at the following link:

www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/human-resources-and-people-development/garda-hr-directorate/garda-strength-breakdown-2025/december-2025.html