Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 July 2026
67. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will outline the proposals there are to increase the emphasis on community policing, which is a very highly regarded policing measure in communities throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49842/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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. As Minister, it is my role to support the Commissioner by ensuring he has the resources he needs. Budget 2026 provides unprecedented funding of €2.74 billion to support recruitment and staffing.
I engage regularly with the Commissioner and I am assured that community policing remains at the heart of An Garda Síochána and is something that all Garda members have a role in. 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 can include working with Neighbourhood Watch, Community Alert or local business fora.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that the Garda National Community Engagement Bureau have conducted a review of Community Policing nationwide and are currently drafting a new Garda Community Policing Policy document. Community Engagement Superintendents are also nominated representatives of An Garda Síochána to the Local Community Safety Partnerships.
Community Policing is delivered across the country through a hybrid model of Community Engagement/frontline Garda members and dedicated full time Community Policing teams, depending on the demography and demands of the particular Garda Division/Community Engagement Area.
The allocation of Garda members to Community Policing duties is managed at Divisional level by local Garda management. Figures from May 2026 show 600 Garda members assigned to Community Policing duties nationwide.
An Garda Síochána publishes information in relation to the allocation of Gardaí including the allocation of Community Gardaí by Division.
Information for 2026 can be found at the following link:
[]www.garda.ie/en/information-centre/garda-statistics/human%20resources/
Information for previous years can be found at the following link:
www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/human-resources-and-people-development/garda-hr-directorate/garda-strength-breakdown-2025/december-2025.html
There is real momentum in Garda recruitment, which is providing more resources to the Garda Commissioner to deploy to frontline policing. This includes the roll out of high visibility policing initiatives in Dublin City Centre, as well as areas of South Dublin including Tallaght and Dún Laoghaire, and to Cork and Limerick Cities, which provide reassurance to the local communities. The Commissioner is committed to expand the rollout of the high visibility policing plan to other areas and I look forward to its further rollout.
