Vol. 426 No. 2
12 Mr. Barrett asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí at present attached to Shankill Garda Station, Shankill, County Dublin; and the way in which this compares with each of the years 1988 to 1992; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
The Garda Commissioner has informed me that 47 members of the Garda Síochána are currently attached to Shankill Garda station. The corresponding figures since 1988 are as follows: 1988, 32; 1989, 34; 1990, 43; 1991, 43; 1992, 46.
This is an increase over the period of 47 per cent in Garda manpower. In addition, two clerical staff were assigned to Shankill in 1992 thereby releasing two gardaí for outdoor operational duties. The requirements at Shankill will contiunue to be monitored by the Garda Commissioner in the light of available resources and competing demands on them.
I thank the Minister for that information. Is the Minister aware that the population of Shankill has increased considerably since 1988 and that the present strength of 47 gardaí is just not capable of dealing with the crime problem in the general area? Is the Minister aware that at times when complaints are made to the Garda station nobody is on duty or available to serve the public? Occasionally, assistance has to be got from Bray Garda station because of the unavailability of gardaí in Shankill.
An increase of 47 per cent since 1988 is a significant increase even taking into account the fact that the population in the Shankill Garda district had increased substantially. I was not aware that when complaints were made by people to Shankill Garda station there was nobody available to take them.
At times.
I will certainly pass on Deputy Barrett's concerns in relation to that to the Garda Commissioner and, particularly, to Assistant Commissioner Curran.
I would draw the Minister's attention to her reply to Queston No. 5 where she informed us that there was a ratio of one garda per 260 persons in Dublin. Is she aware that the population of the catchment area of the Shankill Garda station is now about 25,000 which means that notwithstanding the increase in Garda numbers the Garda strength per head of population is about half the national average and almost half the Dublin average?
We are tending to enter into the area of policy in respect of a question which is very largely statistical.
I was probably not as good at mathematics at school as Deputy Gilmore. Any Garda station in the country that got an increased Garda strength of 47 per cent since 1988 would have been very happy.
Percentages mean nothing. There is not a sufficient number of gardaí on the street.
