Garda Síochána Act 2005

Annual policing plan.

22.— (1) The Garda Commissioner shall each year prepare a policing plan setting out the proposed arrangements for the policing of the State for the following year, including any proposal to—

(a) establish or dissolve a national unit of the Garda Síochána,

(b) alter the boundaries of a regional geographical area under the control of an Assistant Garda Commissioner or of a divisional geographical area under the control of a chief superintendent,

(c) establish or relocate a divisional headquarters under the control of a chief superintendent or of a district headquarters under the control of a superintendent, or

(d) open a Garda Síochána station in a new location or cease stationing members in an existing station.

(2) In preparing a policing plan, the Garda Commissioner shall have regard to the following:

(a) the priorities determined and performance targets established under section 20 ;

(b) the strategy statement in operation under section 21 during the year to which the plan relates;

(c) relevant directives issued under section 25 ;

(d) the resources expected to be available to the Garda Síochána for that year and the proposed allocation of those resources;

(e) relevant Government policy.

(3) In preparing the policing plan, the Garda Commissioner may have regard to the most recent report of each joint policing committee.

(4) Before the month of November in each year, the Garda Commissioner shall submit to the Minister for approval a draft of the policing plan for the following year.

(5) The Minister shall approve the policing plan—

(a) in the form of the draft submitted, or

(b) with such amendments as the Minister, after consulting with the Garda Commissioner, may determine.

(6) As soon as practicable after approving the policing plan, the Minister shall cause a copy of it to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.