Paul Lawless
Question:60. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he can provide the Garda to population ratio per county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49840/26]
View answerWednesday, 1 July 2026
Questions (60)
Written answers
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.
An Garda Síochána police on a Divisional basis, and not on the basis of population, using all resources in a Community Engagement area, supported by Divisional resources and units.
This Operating Model has been designed to enable An Garda Síochána to meet the challenges of modern-day policing more consistently around the country by enabling specialisation in the delivery of key services and freeing up more Gardaí to focus on front line policing.
Under this structure, each Division is organised into four Functional Areas: Community Engagement, Crime, Performance Assurance, and Business Services. The Operating Model, coupled with some realignment of responsibilities, is helping to deliver a consistent, community-focused policing service.
I regularly engage with the Garda Commissioner to ensure our Gardaí have the resources they need. I am informed that when allocating and transferring Garda members to and from any Division, consideration is given to commitments and undertakings outlined in the Annual Policing Plan and priorities as determined in delivering ‘A Policing Service for The Future’.
The Deputy may be interested to note that Garda authorities advise that the requirements of all Garda Divisions nationwide are also taken into account, which include:
• 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.
An Garda Síochána publishes information in relation to the allocation of Gardaí nationally, including a breakdown of Garda allocated to divisions and stations nationwide. Historical data on the allocation of Gardaí can be found here:
www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/human-resources-and-people-development/garda-hr-directorate/garda-strength-breakdown-2025/garda-strength-breakdown-2025.html
The Deputy should select December 2025 and then select 'Garda Members by Division District Station'. The historical data is included in this file.
Data for 2026 can be found here:
Human Resources Statistics - Garda
www.garda.ie/en/information-centre/garda-statistics/human%20resources/
The Deputy should select the relevant month and as above access the file on the nationwide allocation of Gardaí.