asked the Minister for Justice if his attention has been drawn to the statement by the Ballyfermot Traders' Association that there is a grave shortage of gardaí in the area; and the action he proposes to take in the matter.
14.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Garda Strength.
13.
asked the Minister for Justice if he is satisfied that the strength of the Garda Síochána in the docks area of Dublin is adequate to meet the particular situation existing there.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 14 together.
Both of these questions suggest that an insufficient number of gardaí is assigned to the particular areas to which the questions relate. The Commissioner of the Garda Síochána has informed me that the present allocation of gardaí to each of the areas is the maximum that can be provided at present having regard to the overall demands on the available resources. No decision has yet been taken in regard to the allocation of the extra gardaí authorised by the Government but the Deputies may take it that a proportion of them will be allocated to the Dublin area.
I should like to refer to recent publicity which suggests that a special crime unit operating in the docks area has been disbanded and has been replaced by what has been called two gardaí on bicycles. The fact is that there has been no diminution in the number of gardaí on duty in the docks area. Six gardaí—not seven gardaí and a sergeant as has been suggested —operating a patrol car on a 24-hour basis have been replaced by six gardaí on cycle patrol on the same basis. The Garda authorities expect that the new arrangement will provide better police coverage of the area.
I am, in any case, surprised that the change should have been the subject of criticism—some of it from quarters from which a fairly constant demand is for more emphasis on foot patrolling. I might add that the area patrolled by the gardaí in question is also patrolled by members of the harbour police.
Arising from the part of the answer that applies to Question No. 13, would the Minister say how many men, including officers, are involved in the policing of the Ballyfermot area, and how many cars and bicycles are available for these men?
The strength in Ballyfermot is one superintendent, four inspectors, 13 sergeants and 48 gardaí. There is one patrol car and one motor cycle operating around the clock, and one other car which operates up to 2 a.m. nightly, that is about 17 hours per day.
Will the Minister agree that in a part of Dublin city where there is a population in the region of 70,000 to 80,000 we are depending entirely on about 65 people to provide 24-hours service? We have only one motor car and one motor cycle to service the area on a 24-hour seven-day-week basis, and the Commissioner says he is not satisfied from the resources available to him that the area is properly policed. Is the Minister aware that at public meetings held in the area senior members of the Garda force, ranking superintendent and possibly higher, have admitted that they are very disturbed with the inadequate policing given to the area, that they are very short of manpower, and that they need more policing hours there even to keep up with the increasing crime there? Would the Minister not agree that some crash programme should be introduced to see to it that a large area of Dublin, an area much bigger than Limerick city and almost as big as Cork city, will be adequately policed? We have only 50 men for three eight-hour shifts.
This is a long question.
That is less than 20 for an eight-hour shift and less than 13 or 14 men for an eight-hour shift per day on a five-day week, in the Ballyfermot area, for 70,000 people. It is ludicrous.
The population in the Ballyfermot area in the last census was estimated at 40,000 to 45,000 not 70,000 to 80,000.
When was the last census?
Order, let us hear the Minister out.
Deputy Collins does not want to hear the facts. The population was estimated at 40,000 to 45,000. In addition portion of the Ballyfermot area is policed from the Kilmainham station which has a total of 51 men. From time to time Ballyfermot has had assistance from the Crime Task Force which has been available at evening time and early night to supplement Garda strength in Ballyfermot. I have read of the concern of the Ballyfermot Traders' Association, but I have also read of the reply to those people from the Ballyfermot Community Association, who feel that the Ballyfermot Traders' Association have painted an inaccurate picture of their district.
Can the Minister say whether or not he is aware of statements made in Ballyfermot at public meetings by senior members of the Garda force, that they are quite satisfied that there is not enough Garda presence in the area and whether or not this is true?
Garda officers and myself would like to see extra gardaí on duty in many parts of the country. As I have told this House on numerous occasions we have increased the Garda force by 950 since we came into office, and we propose to increase it by a further 500. This is indicative of the Government's intention to answer the request for further Garda strength in different parts of the country. I am not saying that I am satisfied with the level of Garda strength in any district, but it is adequate as far as available resources permit.
I am disappointed that the Minister decided to take the two questions together. It is indicative of the attitude of the Department and the confusion of the Department on how they should handle Dublin's crime wave. There is no comparison between the two areas.
A question please.
In the Evening Herald yesterday evening it was reported that within a few hours of the change of personnel in the gardaí these gangsters robbed 22 tons of aluminium and a fork lift truck. Will the Minister plead with the gardaí to keep an eye on a 100-ton crane down there? If that is not done it will disappear also. The situation is very serious.
We will keep an eye on it and on the Deputy in case he disappears.
Not politically.
This is so serious that the Minister will have to augment the force operating in that area. The goods stored there are very valuable.
The Deputy is making a statement rather than asking a question.
The Minister should seek the help of the harbour police in this regard.
The reason I took the two questions together—it was my decision and not a departmental one—was because they both related to the essential question of the strength of the force. I should like to state that there has been no diminution in the special crime patrol available for the docks area. As I stated in my reply in reference to recent publicity which suggested that a special crime unit operating in the docks area has been disbanded, it has not been and there has been no diminution in the number of gardaí on duty there. The harbour police are there to supplement the gardaí in whatever way they can within their limited legal range.
There has been diminution.
In view of the inadequate strength of the force in Dublin and the fact that 500 gardaí could not be trained in time—it takes one year to train 140—would the Minister consider withdrawing the gardaí from Border areas and leave that duty to the Army so that the gardaí could be deployed in Dublin where there is a need for them?
No. The enforcement of the law must be by the Garda. This is a basic matter of policy. It would be a retrograde step to have law enforcement in the hands of an Army.
Dublin city is becoming a serious crime area where people are living in terror of vandalism and violence.
With respect, that is an exaggerated statement.
Could the Minister say whether or not there has been a diminution in the number of Garda hours worked in the Ballyfermot area in 1976 compared with 1974? Would the Minister state when the first batch of the 500 gardaí we were to have since last June will be on the streets, how many will be in that batch and how many of them will then be available for Dublin city?
I have no information as to the number of Garda hours worked. If the Deputy says something about this, I cannot contradict him.
There has been a substantial cutback in the number of Garda hours worked.
The Deputy is alleging that as a fact, but I reckon that as his opinion. With respect, that is a different thing from being a fact.
The Minister knows well that there has been a cutback.
That is the Deputy's opinion. I cannot say when the first garda will be on the streets but I imagine it will be before the end of the year.
How many new gardaí will be on the streets before the end of the year? Will the figure be between 50 and 60?
The figure will be greater than that.
The Minister told Deputy Moore that the Garda patrol car was being replaced by six or seven cyclists and I should like to know if he means motor cyclists?
No, pedal cyclists.
Is the Minister serious in saying that we are now depending on pedal cyclists to maintain law and order in the docks area?
There has been constant criticism about the lack of foot patrols and I am surprised criticism is being voiced in respect of cycle patrols. I am sure Deputy Moore will support me when I say that gardaí on cycle patrol in the dock area will be more effective, having regard to the nature of the buildings and streets in that area, than with motor cars.