352. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice the number of stations in the Connemara area that do not have a Garda assigned, and the names of these stations ; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39061/24]

As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the distribution of Garda members between the various Garda stations. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime and a strengthened, well-resources garda organisation is central to this policy. An Garda Síochána has been allocated unprecedented funding of over €2.35 billion for 2024, a 25% increase since 2020 allowing for the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff. As a result, there are now around 14,000 Garda members nationwide as of 30 June 2024.

While the Garda Commissioner is operationally responsible for the allocation of Garda resources, I engage regularly with him 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’.

I understand 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.

The Deputy may also be aware that An Garda Síochána do not police on a station basis, but rather on a Divisional basis, and see stations as locations within communities for people to attend, and for resources to be accommodated. Policing for an area will be delivered using all resources in a Community Engagement Area and supported by Divisional resources and units.

The rollout by the Garda Commissioner of the new Garda Operating Model is continuing and meets a key recommendation of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. The model, which is now fully operational in Galway, is designed to make changes to the structures of An Garda Síochána to provide for more frontline Gardaí, increased Garda visibility, and a wider range of policing services for people in their local area.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that as of 30 June 2024, the latest date for when figures are available, there were 599 Gardaí assigned to the Galway division, which represents an increase of 7% since 2015.

In the interest of transparency, detailed information in relation to the allocation of Gardaí by division, station and rank can be found at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/bd777-an-garda-siochana-your-police-service-some-facts-and-figures/ .

For the Deputy's information, the most up to date information in relation to the opening hours of individual Garda stations can be found using the following link:

www.garda.ie/en/contact-us/station-directory/ .