Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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522. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Gardaí, by rank attached to community policing units in each district within Carlow-Kilkenny Division as of 9 September 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36557/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána, and all Gardaí have a role to play in community policing in the course of carrying out their duties. Community policing is also fundamental to the new Garda Operating Model which is currently being rolled out across the country and is fully commenced in 16 of the 21 Garda Divisions.

The new model will provide more front-line Gardaí, increased Garda visibility, and a wider range of policing services for people in their local area. It will divide service delivery within division into four functional areas, one of the most important areas being Community Engagement. This will allow for a greater, more consistent focus on community policing in all divisions.

The Garda authorities have advised that a member of An Garda Síochána can be 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 partnership and engagement. Examples of this engagement are working with Neighbourhood Watch, Community Alert, or local business fora.

Community Policing Teams strategically manage and lead the development, delivery and evaluation of the Garda Community Policing Framework. Like most Garda members, those assigned to CPTs have dual functions. In addition to their strategic roles in their Community Policing 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.

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 and the number of allocated to community policing in Carlow/Kilkenny.

The information can be found at the following link:

Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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524. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when the Garda manual was last updated with regard to the pursuit of riders on e-scooters, motorcycles and e-bikes travelling at high speed on public roads, public open area fields, public parks, etc., who are at high risk of endangering other road users. [36666/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I have sought the information requested by the Deputy from the Garda authorities, regrettably this information was not available in time. I will right to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.