Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 June 2024
253. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the number of Gardaí, by rank, attached to the community policing unit of each station in DMR West, south and south central as of 1 June 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26184/24]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, Community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána, and all Gardaí have a role to play in community policing in the course of carrying out their duties. Community policing is also fundamental to the new Garda Operating Model which is currently being rolled out across the country and is fully commenced in thirteen Garda divisions.
The new model will provide more front-line Gardaí, increased Garda visibility, and a wider range of policing services for people in their local area. It will divide service delivery within the division into four functional areas, one of the most important areas being Community Engagement. This will allow for a greater, more consistent focus on community policing in all divisions.
The Garda authorities have advised that a member of An Garda Síochána can be 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 partnership and engagement. Examples of this engagement are working with Neighbourhood Watch, Community Alert, or local business fora.
Community Policing Teams strategically manage and lead the development, delivery and evaluation of the Garda Community Policing Framework. Like most Garda members, those assigned to CPTs have dual functions. In addition to their strategic roles in their Community Policing Teams, part of which requires them to regularly update their Community Engagement Superintendent on the policing needs of their community, they are also frontline members. It is also important to note that CPTs draw on all frontline Gardaí to carry out community policing.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that there were 707 Community Gardaí nationwide at the end of March 2024, the latest date for when figures are available. This represents an increase of 12.5% since the end of 2023.
I am also informed that the table below sets out the number of Community Gardaí assigned to the DMR West Division, DMR South Central Division and the DMR South Division by station on 31 March 2024. Please note that these figures are operational and may be subject to change.
|
DMR WEST |
Insp |
Sergeant |
Garda |
Total |
|
Ballyfermot |
1 |
1 |
8 |
10 |
|
Blanchardstown |
1 |
1 |
9 |
11 |
|
Cabra |
0 |
1 |
7 |
8 |
|
Clondalkin |
0 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
|
Finglas |
0 |
1 |
10 |
11 |
|
Lucan |
0 |
1 |
9 |
10 |
|
Rathcoole |
0 |
0 |
5 |
5 |
|
Ronanstown |
0 |
0 |
6 |
6 |
|
Total |
2 |
6 |
58 |
66 |
|
DMR South Central |
Insp |
Sergeant |
Garda |
Total |
|
Donnybrook |
0 |
1 |
5 |
6 |
|
Irishtown |
0 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
|
Kevin Street |
0 |
1 |
7 |
8 |
|
Kilmainham |
0 |
1 |
9 |
10 |
|
Pearse Street |
0 |
5 |
50 |
55 |
|
Total |
0 |
9 |
74 |
83 |
|
DMR SOUTH |
Insp |
Sergeant |
Garda |
Total |
|
Crumlin |
0 |
1 |
5 |
6 |
|
Rathfarnham |
0 |
1 |
8 |
9 |
|
Rathmines |
0 |
1 |
7 |
8 |
|
Sundrive Road |
0 |
0 |
5 |
5 |
|
Tallaght |
1 |
2 |
12 |
15 |
|
Terenure |
0 |
0 |
5 |
5 |
|
Total |
1 |
5 |
42 |
48 |
