Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 January 2025
925. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the number of Gardaí, by rank attached to a unit (details supplied) as of 4 December 2024; if she will provide same figures as of 31 December 2023, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46348/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraCommunity policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána, and I very much support the approach that every Garda has a role to play in community policing.
I can inform the Deputy that on 31 October 2024, the latest date for when published figures are available, there were 684 Community Gardaí nationwide.
I am advised that at the end of October there were 66 Community Gardaí assigned to the DMR North Division, an increase of 1.5% since the end of December 2023.
The table below, which was provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of Community Gardaí by rank assigned to Coolock Garda station at the end of December 2023, and on 31 October 2024, the latest date for which figures are available.
|
Community Garda - Coolock Garda Station |
Garda |
Sergeant |
Total |
|
31 December 2023 |
8 |
1 |
9 |
|
31 October 2024 |
7 |
1 |
8 |
Please be advised that these figures are operational and may be subject to change.
The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Units and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.
In the interest of transparency, information in relation to the allocation of Community Gardaí by Division is publicly available and can be found at the following link. I can also advise the Deputy that I have received the most recent figures for October from An Garda Síochána which have been published on the website.
www.gov.ie/en/publication/bd777-an-garda-siochana-your-police-service-some-facts-and-figures/
As the Deputy may be aware, a member of An Garda Síochána is 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 community partnership and engagement. Examples of this engagement are working with Neighbourhood Watch, Community Alert, or local business fora.
Like most Garda members, those assigned to CPTs have dual functions. In addition to their strategic roles in these 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.
Of course, Gardaí are not solely responsible for safety in our communities and this is what the new whole-of-Government Community Safety structure aims to address by bringing the relevant service providers and the Gardaí together to work with each community in a collaborative manner to focus on tackling the concerns identified and prioritised by the local community itself. The roll-out of Local Community Safety Partnerships across the country will be a core part of that.
