asked the Minister for Justice the number of additional gardaí who will be recruited this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
17.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - Garda Recruits.
16.
asked the Minister for Justice the number of extra gardaí expected to be recruited this year.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 17 together.
So far this year 298 recruits have been appointed to the Garda Síochána and a further 75 are due to be appointed today. It is expected that a total of 1,000 recruits will have been appointed by the end of the year.
Bringing the total to what number?
To 11,000 approximately.
How does that number compare with the number recruited ten years ago?
I will have to search for that information on another occasion.
Would the Minister please circulate that information?
18.
asked the Minister for Justice if he will appoint an extra garda for the summer months in the Duncannon, Fethard-on-Sea and Hook areas of County Wexford.
19.
asked the Minister for Justice if he will, as a matter of urgency, create a garda post in Fethard-on-Sea, County Wexford, because of the enormous growth in tourism there and because the force in neighbouring stations is undermanned.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 19 together.
The detailed deployment of members of the force is a matter primarily for the Garda authorities. They have informed me that it is proposed to allocate an extra garda to Duncannon next week. They consider that the existing arrangement for policing the Fethard-on-Sea area from Duncannon makes the best use of available resources and that the creation of a Garda post in Fethard-on-Sea would not be warranted.
While I welcome the extra post at Duncannon, is the Minister aware that the people in or near Fethard village are grossly dissatisfied with the policing arrangements for that village, in view of the fact that during the summer months there could be a population of up to 5,000 per day? The people of the village believe, as I do, that the answer to the problem is in the provision of a resident garda at Fethard village.
As I have said, the deployment of Garda personnel is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. The view expressed to me is that the Garda Commissioner is happy with the present situation and states that the area can be adequately covered by deployment as proposed by him at the moment.
While I accept that the police force at New Ross, Campile and Duncannon do all that they are able to, nevertheless, the policing arrangements are not what they should be in Fethard-on-Sea. Is the Minister aware that a gaming licence has been granted in that area very recently against the wishes of all the locals and that it is likely to increase vandalism to some degree? Would he take a special look at the Fethard-on-Sea case again.
I will.