Patricia Ryan
Question:151. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí assigned to the Newbridge, Kildare and Athy areas of County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10481/23]
View answerWednesday, 1 March 2023
Questions (151, 153)
Patricia Ryan
Question:153. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Justice the number of Garda personnel in Newbridge Garda station per working shift to serve a town of almost 30,000 people. [10483/23]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 151 and 153 together.
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 Garda business, including responsibility for the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. The Commissioner is also responsible under Section 33 of the Act for the distribution and stationing of the Garda Síochána throughout the State. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.
The spreadsheet at the link sets out the number of Garda members assigned to Kildare Division at 31 January 2023, the latest date for which figures are available.
You will appreciate that the number of persons on shift in a Garda station at any one time is an operational matter. Due to shift patterns, it is not possible to give such numbers. In addition, this information is not disclosed for sound operational security reasons.
I can, however, assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and a strengthened Garda Síochána is at the centre of that.
Since 2015, the budget for An Garda Síochána has increased by approximately €672m, or 46%. This has allowed for sustained and ongoing recruitment and as Minister, I am committed to delivering the necessary resources to bring the number of Gardaí to 15,000 and beyond.
Since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014 a total of 4,029 Garda members have attested, this includes the 369 Probationers who attested in 2022 and the 24 Probationers who attested on the 13 January 2023.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that at end January 2023 there were 14,125 Garda members nationwide. This represents an increase of over 10% since end December 2015 when there were 12,816 Garda members nationwide.
Please note that this information is based upon operational data which has been provided by An Garda Síochána and may be liable to change.
For the Deputy's information, 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/