Garda Deployment.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 December 2004

Thursday, 16 December 2004

Questions (165, 166)

Jim Glennon

Question:

165 Mr. Glennon asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on whether a Garda district of the size of Balbriggan, County Dublin (details supplied) should have the same number of gardaí in 2004 as it had in the 1980s; his further views on whether it is appropriate that the escort services for the detention centres at Oberstown and Trinity Houses be serviced from local Garda resources, thereby causing an inordinate drain on those resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33896/04]

Written answers

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I have been informed by the Garda authorities, responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of Balbriggan Garda station as at 16 December is 34, all ranks. The personnel strength of Balbriggan Garda station as at 1 December 1989 was 28, all ranks. This represents an increase of 6, or 21%, in the number of gardaí allocated to Balbriggan since that date. Balbriggan forms part of the Louth-Meath division. The personnel strength of the division as at 16 December is 536, all ranks. The personnel strength of the Louth-Meath division as at 31 December 1989 was 473, all ranks. This represents an increase of 63, 13.3%, in the number of gardaí allocated to the Louth-Meath division since that date. It is the responsibility of the divisional officer to allocate personnel within his or her division to ensure that optimum use is made of the existing resources within it.

The Government has approved my proposal to increase the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 members on a phased basis, in line with the key commitment in An Agreed Programme for Government. Its implementation will significantly strengthen the operational capacity of the force. The Garda Commissioner will now be drawing up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources. The needs of the Louth-Meath division will be fully considered within the context of the needs of Garda divisions throughout the State. The additional resources will be targeted at the areas of greatest need, as is envisaged in the programme for Government. The programme identifies, in particular, areas with a significant drugs problem and a large number of public order offences, but it will be possible to address other priorities as well, such as the need to significantly increase the number of gardaí allocated to traffic duties as part of the new Garda traffic corps. The additional gardaí will not be put on administrative duties but put directly into front-line, operational, high-visibility policing, having a real impact.

Jim Glennon

Question:

166 Mr. Glennon asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the breakdown by age of the 130 members of all ranks of the Garda Síochána who will retire during 2005 on compulsory age grounds; and the breakdown by age of the additional 321 members who will either choose to retire having attained 30 years’ service and reached the age of 50 or retire or resign otherwise, on the basis of averages from previous years; if consideration has been given to raising the relevant retirement ages for the different ranks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33897/04]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I have been informed by the Garda authorities, responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that 106 members of Garda sergeant and inspector rank will retire on compulsory age grounds during 2005 at the age of 57. In addition, 24 members of superintendent, chief superintendent and assistant commissioner rank will retire on compulsory age grounds during 2005 at the age of 60.

All members who may chose to retire voluntarily during 2005, having attained 30 years service and reached 50 years of age or more, will be between 50 and 57 years of age at the rank of Garda sergeant and inspector, or be between 50 and 60 years of age at the rank of superintendent, chief superintendent or assistant commissioner. The Garda authorities project, on the basis of averages from previous years, that 321 members will either choose to retire having attained 30 years' service and reached the age of 50, or retire or resign otherwise.

I have no plans to increase the retirement age for members of the Garda Síochána who were recruited to the force prior to 1 April 2004. The changes in the retirement age for members of the Garda Síochána, outlined in the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004, will apply only to new entrants, recruited to the Garda Síochána after 1 April 2004.