Written answer
An Garda Síochána
The Minister said Mayo has no fixed sanctioned Garda strength; allocations reflect operational needs, with current staffing and community Garda figures available online.
383. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current Garda strength assigned to the Mayo Garda Division, including community policing personnel; the number of Garda vacancies in the division; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67828/26]
Comment on this
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 recruitment and training of, and distribution and stationing of Garda personnel throughout the State.
I am informed by Garda Authorities that there is no 'sanctioned strength' for Garda Divisions. However I am assured by the Commissioner that when allocating Garda resources, consideration is given to commitments and undertakings outlined in the Annual Policing Plan. 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
• Local population and trends, geographical area and size
• Transfer applications, including welfare, personnel issues and concerns.
Information on Garda strengths nationally, including the number of community Gardaí assigned to each division is available on the Garda website, is regularly updated and can be accessed at the following link:
www.garda.ie/en/information-centre/garda-statistics/human%20resources/