Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 October 2024
575. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice the number of Gardaí in Cork, broken down by unit (for example, drugs policing, road traffic) in Cork city in September 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, respectively, in tabular form. [42983/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, a further record-breaking increase in funding for An Garda Síochána was allocated in Budget 2025. The allocation for An Garda Síochána now stands at almost €2.5 billion, and has increased by more than a quarter since 2020. This funding will support the recruitment of new Garda members, Garda staff and Garda Reserves, and reflects the Government’s commitment to supporting all parts of the organisation.
I am assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review, in the context of crime trends and policing priorities.
The Deputy may be interested to know that crime such as burglary, public order offences, and drugs offences have decreased across the County when 2023 is compared with 2019.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that at the end of June 2024, the latest date for which figures are available, there was a total of 1,269 Garda members assigned to Cork. Of this total, there were 667 Garda members assigned to Cork City Division, 322 to Cork North Division, and 280 to Cork West Division. This represents an increase of over 3% when compared to figures at the end of 2015 when there was a total of 1,225 Garda members assigned to Cork.
I am further advised that as of the same date there are 217 Garda staff working alongside Garda members in Cork, a total which has doubled since 2015. Garda staff carry out vital roles to increase availability of Gardaí to focus on front-line duties. The significant increase in Garda staff across the country in recent years has enabled 900 Gardaí to be freed up for front-line duties.
The table below outlines the total number of Garda members assigned to Cork as of the end of December 2020 to 2023, and as of 30 June 2024, the latest date for when figures are available this year.
|
DIVISION |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
Jun-24 |
|
CORK CITY |
723 |
730 |
709 |
699 |
667 |
|
CORK NORTH |
351 |
330 |
333 |
322 |
322 |
|
CORK WEST |
308 |
297 |
289 |
283 |
280 |
The table below outlines the total number of Roads Policing Gardaí assigned to Cork as of the end of December 2020 to 2023, and as of 30 June 2024, the latest date for when figures are available this year.
|
DIVISION |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
Jun-24 |
|
CORK CITY |
34 |
35 |
30 |
31 |
28 |
|
CORK NORTH |
26 |
23 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
|
CORK WEST |
23 |
22 |
22 |
20 |
21 |
The further table below outlines the number of Community Gardaí assigned to Cork as of the end of December 2020 to 2023, and as of 30 June 2024, the latest date for when figures are available this year.
|
Community Gardaí |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
Jun-24 |
|
Cork City |
38 |
40 |
36 |
36 |
19 |
|
Cork North |
7 |
7 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
|
Cork West |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
In relation to the number of members assigned to the Divisional Drugs Units, I am advised by the Garda authorities that this information cannot be shared under security grounds.
I am informed that it is the experience of the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB), that such information is invaluable to local drug trafficking networks and can at times be taken into account when active in their respective criminal enterprises.
I am also informed by the Garda authorities that this information can facilitate the identification of all officers deployed full time on such duties, and in turn the work patterns of such officers.
In the interest of transparency, information in relation to the allocation of Garda members by Division 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/.
