Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 2 Dec 1997

Vol. 483 No. 6

Written Answers. - Policing Arrangements.

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

I assume from the Deputy's question that a community police force under the control of the Garda Síochána would be along the idea of a reserve police force.

The question of the establishment of such a force has been considered from time to time. However, it is not clear that any possible advantage arising from the establishment of such a force would outweigh potential difficulties which arise from it. For example, one would have to be concerned with the rights of individuals faced with a new law enforcement group who would initially lack the expertise and training of full-time police. A reserve police force would also cost money and, given the potential difficulties and the problems of acceptability of such a force, I am in no doubt that the money would be better spent in providing increased capacity for the Garda Síochána. This can be achieved through the recruitment of additional gardaí to the force and by increased civilianisation of the force thereby maximising the number of gardaí which can be released to operational duties.

It is in line with this belief that in our Government programme we have committed ourselves to bringing the strength of the Garda Síochána to 12,000 members, and I am also endeavouring to maximise the number of gardaí engaged on operational duties which can only be performed by members of the Garda Síochána.

It has always been the policy of this Department and the Garda authorities to encourage all law abiding citizens to assist the gardaí in law enforcement. This policy is being implemented by the concept of community policing in the urban context. We have the community alert and neighbourhood watch schemes and various other community based voluntary initiatives.

The first neighbourhood garda was appointed in the Loughlinstown-Ballybrack area of south County Dublin in November 1987 and there has been a gradual expansion since then. A total of 195 gardaí, 27 sergeants and one inspector in the Dublin Metropolitan Area are engaged in neighbourhood policing duties. The Garda authorities consider that the neighbourhood policing scheme has proven a very successful way of putting gardaí in closer touch with the community they serve and of providing a more visible Garda presence locally. The scheme has been further expanded to include other major cities in the following Garda divisions: Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford, Sligo, Dundalk, Longford-Westmeath and Tipperary.

I am not convinced that a reserve police force is needed. As I have outlined I intend committing the resources that we have to strengthening the Garda Síochána and continuing our existing community policing initiatives.