Written Answers Nos. 177-180
177. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will ask the Labour Relations Commission to review the terms that underpin its engagement with organisations that represent particular cohorts of public sector workers; if he will ask the LRC to engage formally with two organisations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15873/13]
View answerI should firstly explain that the operation and functions of the Labour Relations Commission do not come within my remit.
The forum for dealing with industrial relations between the staff representative organisations in question and their employer and the Government is the Garda Síochána Conciliation and Arbitration Council. There is a dispute-resolution mechanism which provides for access to an Adjudicator and a Board of Arbitration. There are no plans at present to replace this scheme.
Separately, the LRC chaired the recent talks which led to the drawing up of the Draft Public Service Agreement 2013 - 2016. As I have previously said, I very much regret that the two staff representative organisations in question withdrew from these talks.
178. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will confirm that the realignment of Templemore sub-district with Thurles district and Roscrea sub-district with Nenagh will not lead to the redeployment of personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15740/13]
View answer179. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if there will there be a reduction in hours of operation in stations due to the re-alignment of Templemore sub-district with Thurles district and Roscrea sub-district with Nenagh, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15741/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 178 and 179 together.
An Garda Síochána's Policing Plan 2013 sets out details of the Garda District and Station Consolidation Programme. It outlines the distribution of Templemore District between Thurles and Roscrea Districts. Both Districts are situated within the Tipperary Division in the South Eastern Region.
The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner and his senior officers are responsible for the detailed management and allocation of resources, including personnel and the opening hours of Garda stations, throughout the organisation and I have no direct function in the matter. These issues are constantly monitored in the context of demographics, crime trends, policing needs and other operational strategies in place on a District, Divisional and Regional level to ensure optimum use is made of Garda resources and the best possible Garda service is provided to the public.
However, I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of Tipperary Garda Division on 28 February 2013, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 369, of which 55, 82 and 60 are assigned to the Templemore, Thurles and Nenagh Districts respectively. There are also 36 Garda Reserves and 34 Civilians in the Division.
It is important to reiterate that the amalgamation of Districts will not diminish Community policing, which is at the heart of policing in Ireland - there are 96 Gardaí dedicated to Community Policing in the Division. This has been consistently emphasised by the Garda Commissioner and his Annual Policing Plan for 2013 highlights the importance of An Garda Síochána working with communities to tackle behaviour that affects the quality of life of people throughout our cities and towns.
180. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of burglaries detected nationally in 2011 and 2012 and the number of prosecutions resulting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15742/13]
View answerThe Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose.
I have requested the CSO to provide statistics directly to the Deputy.
