Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 19 Oct 2000

Vol. 524 No. 4

Written Answers. - Garda Deployment.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

139 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to public concern with regard to the level of policing in the Dublin area due to inadequate staff numbers; his views on reports that budgetary constraints are currently exacerbating these problems due to cutbacks in the availability of overtime payments; his further views on the very negative impact which these cutbacks are likely to have on the community Garda service in respect of dealing with public order offences; if he will give an undertaking that the service will be adequately resourced in order to maintain an acceptable level of policing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22832/00]

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

Since I have taken office, I have increased the number of gardaí from 10,800 in 1997 to a figure of 11,600 this year. Last week the Government approved my proposals for a Garda recruitment competition later this year and the recruitment of 500 Garda trainees from that competition in the year 2001. This latest recruitment competition will fulfil the commitment in the Programme for Government to increase the strength of the force to a record level of 12,000.

The amount of money provided in the Garda Síochána Vote has increased from £457 million in 1997 to £670 million this year, an increase of nearly 50 per cent. Provision has been made for nearly £45 million in Garda overtime this year. This substantial allocation recognises that the nature of Garda work and the requirement that the Garda authorities respond at short notice to crisis situations.

The Garda Síochána has never been so well resourced as it is today.

The detailed allocation of Garda personnel and resources to an individual area is a matter for the Garda authorities who have informed me that the current personnel strength, all ranks, in the Dublin metropolitan area is 3,623.

While crime – as measured by the number of recorded indictable offences – fell nationally in 1999 as compared to 1998 by 5 per cent, crime fell in the Dublin metropolitan area by 8 per cent, the biggest reduction in crime in any of the six Garda regions. Within the Dublin metropolitan area, crime fell in each of the six divisions.

A national public order initiative, Operation Oíche, has recently been launched by the Garda Commissioner to tackle street violence and public disorder on the streets of large towns and cities. The operation is focusing on the primary areas of public disorder, public intoxication, under age drinking, illicit drug use and under age alcohol sales. Locations of recurring incidents are receiving particular Garda attention with the emphasis placed on high visibility patrolling. Special resource units and unmarked crime task force units are also utilised to the full.