Justice | To ask the Minister for Justice the total number of gardaí now available at any one given time

To ask the Minister for Justice the total number of gardaí now available at any one given time; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

– Bernard J. Durkan T.D.

For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 24 May, 2022.

* To ask the Minister for Justice the total strength of An Garda Síochána at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

– Bernard J. Durkan T.D.

For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 24 May, 2022.

REPLY

The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, with the unprecedented allocation provided in Budget 2022 of over €2 billion.  

As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, which includes decisions on the deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the overall strength of An Garda Síochána at 30 April 2022, the latest date for which figures are available, is 14,294. This represents an increase of  over 11% since December 2015, when there were 12,816 Garda members nationwide. 

Additionally, over 800 Garda members have also been redeployed in recent years from administrative duties to frontline policing roles where their expertise can be utilised fully. 

I am assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of policing priorities and crime trends, to ensure their optimum use. Therefore, the full complement of resources fluctuates at any given time and where a deficiency in resources is identified the matter is considered fully and addressed accordingly.

I am further informed that it is not possible to provide a figure for the number of Gardaí on duty at any one time due to the fluctuating nature of crossovers, rosters, and other necessary changes.

I understand that it is a matter for the Divisional Chief Superintendent to determine the optimum distribution of duties among the personnel available to them, having regard to the profile of each area within the Division and its specific needs. 

Further detailed information in relation to Garda numbers is available on my Department’s website.  This information is updated every month with the latest data provided by An Garda Síochána, and includes the number of Gardaí by station across the whole country.

The information can be found at the following link:  

http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/An_Garda_Siochana_facts_and_figures