Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
1179. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the total number of gardaí currently staffing the stations at Ballyfermot, Crumlin, Sundrive Road, Kilmainham, Terenure, and Kevin Street; the total number of vacancies; the total number of community guards; and the number of vacancies. [38375/23]
View answerI can assure the Deputy the Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and the 2023 budget of over €2 billion will allow for the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff, with Garda recruits entering Templemore approximately every 11 weeks.
Overall, since 2015 there has been an almost 9% net increase in the number of Gardaí. These Gardaí are supported by around 3,140 Garda staff, which is over 56% more than the number of staff in 2015. This increases the availability of Gardaí to concentrate on frontline policing duties.
As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the distribution and stationing of the Garda Síochána throughout the State. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.
I am assured by the Commissioner that the requirements of all Garda Divisions nationwide are taken into account. These requirements include, but are not limited to:
• 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
I also understand that local and senior Garda Management are consulted during the allocation of personnel and are responsible for the specific deployment and assignment of duties being undertaken at divisional level. The situation remains closely monitored by the Garda Senior Leadership Team, particularly in view of commitments to the continued roll-out of the operating model of policing at divisional level to ensure optimum use of all Garda resources in providing the best possible Garda service to the community.
I am advised that authorised figures for unfilled posts at both Garda and Sergeant uniform ranks within divisions are not held by An Garda Síochána.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda stations referred to by the Deputy are located within the DMR South, DMR South Central and DMR West Divisions. The Tables below, which were provided to me by the Garda authorities, set out the number of Garda members assigned to each Division at end December 2015 and at end July 2023 (the latest date for when figures are available).
|
Division |
District |
2015 |
July 2023 |
% Difference 31/12/2015 & 31/07/2023 |
|
D.M.R. SOUTH |
CRUMLIN TOTAL |
157 |
149 |
-5.10% |
|
|
TALLAGHT TOTAL |
245 |
271 |
10.61% |
|
|
TERENURE TOTAL |
139 |
125 |
-10.07% |
|
D.M.R. SOUTH Total |
|
541 |
545 |
0.74% |
|
Division |
District |
2015 |
July 2023 |
% Difference 31/12/2015 & 31/07/2023 |
|
D.M.R. SOUTH CENTRAL |
COMMAND & CONTROL |
0 |
49 |
|
|
|
DONNYBROOK TOTAL |
155 |
144 |
-7.10% |
|
|
KEVIN STREET TOTAL |
192 |
232 |
20.83% |
|
|
PEARSE STREET |
280 |
248 |
-11.43% |
|
D.M.R. SOUTH CENTRAL Total |
|
627 |
673 |
7.34% |
|
Division |
District |
2015 |
July 2023 |
% Difference 31/12/2015 & 31/07/2023 |
|
D.M.R. WEST |
BLANCHARDSTOWN TOTAL |
327 |
320 |
-2.14% |
|
|
CLONDALKIN TOTAL |
194 |
204 |
5.15% |
|
|
LUCAN TOTAL |
167 |
190 |
13.77% |
|
D.M.R. WEST Total |
|
688 |
714 |
3.78% |
For the Deputy’s information a comprehensive station level breakdown is appended below.
Furthermore, the tables below set out the number of Garda staff assigned to the DMR South, South Central and West Divisions at end December 2015 and at end July 2023 (the latest date for when figures are available).
|
Garda Staff |
2015 |
Jul-23 |
% Difference |
|
DMR SOUTH |
28 |
56 |
100.00% |
|
D.M.R. SOUTH CENTRAL |
30 |
114 |
280.00% |
|
D.M.R. WEST |
47 |
68 |
44.68% |
This increase in Garda staff numbers means that as well as new Gardaí assigned to the Division, additional Gardaí can be redeployed from administrative to operational policing duties, where their training and policing expertise can be used to best effect.
I want to emphasise that community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána, and that all Gardaí have a role to play in community policing in the course of carrying out their duties. I am informed that at end July 2023, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 46 Community Gardaí assigned to the DMR South, 50 Community Garda assigned to the DMR South Central and 61 Community Gardaí assigned to the DMR West. The tables below sets out the location of these Community Gardaí by Station.
|
DMR SOUTH |
Jul -23 |
|
Crumlin |
6 |
|
Sundrive Road |
5 |
|
Tallaght |
14 |
|
Rathfarnham |
10 |
|
Rathmines |
6 |
|
Terenure |
5 |
|
Total |
46 |
|
D.M.R.S.C. |
Jul-23 |
|
Kevin Street |
7 |
|
Kilmainham |
11 |
|
Pearse St |
20 |
|
Donnybrook |
8 |
|
Irishtown |
4 |
|
Total |
50 |
|
DMR WEST |
Jul -23 |
|
Cabra |
5 |
|
Finglas |
10 |
|
Blanchardstown |
11 |
|
Lucan |
10 |
|
Ronanstown |
6 |
|
Ballyfermot |
8 |
|
Clondalkin |
6 |
|
Rathcoole |
5 |
|
Total |
61 |
All information provided above is based upon operational data which has been provided by An Garda Síochána and may be subject to change.
The Deputy will wish to be aware that 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/
