Skip to main content
Normal View

Garda Resources

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 December 2015

Tuesday, 8 December 2015

Questions (311)

James Bannon

Question:

311. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide increased resources in County Longford and in County Westmeath for An Garda Síochána to deal with rural crime; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43944/15]

View answer

Written answers

As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review taking into account crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources.

I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that as of the 31 October 2015, the latest date for which figures are readily available, there were 291 members, 12 Reserves, 24 civilians assigned to the Roscommon/Longford Division with 245 members, 23 Reserves, 21 civilians allocated to the Westmeath Division.

I am further informed that there are 47 vehicles allocated to the Roscommon/Longford Division, 11 of which were allocated in 2015 and that there are 51 vehicles assigned to the Westmeath Division, 11 of which were also allocated in 2015.

This Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the capacity to provide effective, visible policing throughout the country. A crucial element of this strategy is to have ongoing seamless recruitment to renew An Garda Síochána. With this in mind Budget 2016 made provision for the recruitment of 600 new Gardaí next year bringing to 1,150 the number of new Gardaí that will be recruited since the reopening of the Garda College in Templemore in September 2014. So far 295 of those new recruits are fully attested 5 of which were assigned to the Westmeath Division and are on the ground in the community.

The 2016 Budget allocation of €1.5 billion for An Garda Síochána includes over €67 million in additional funding which will, in addition to the recruitment of new trainee Gardaí, also provide additional funding for Garda Surveillance, special operations and targeted, intelligence-led policing. This additional recruitment and budget allocation builds on the current high level of investment in Garda vehicles. We have invested over €34 million in new Garda vehicles since 2012 with over 640 new vehicles coming on stream in 2015, ranging from more Garda patrol cars to high-powered vehicles for armed units. The Government's Capital Plan 2016-2021 provides for a further €46 million of investment in vehicles as well as an additional €200 million for Information and Communications Technology which will allow An Garda Síochána to deploy the latest cutting edge technologies in the fight against crime. We are also investing in airborne surveillance. Taken together, this step-change in investment in policing will ensure that the Gardaí can be mobile, visible and responsive, on the roads and in the community. This Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the capacity to provide effective, visible policing throughout the country.

The recently announced Operation Thor builds on previous and current Garda operations to tackle crime, particularly burglaries the number of which, as we know, increase with the advent of the long winter nights, in both urban and rural communities nationwide. In excess of €5 million is being committed to support Operation Thor which entails a broad range of activities to tackle burglars, organised crime gangs and prolific offenders as well as working with communities to prevent crime. These activities include: additional high-visibility patrols in identified burglary hot-spots; increased use of checkpoints to tackle the criminal gangs using the national road network; the use of new high powered vehicles by the armed Regional Response Units; efforts to disrupt the stolen goods market; programmes to help reduce re-offending by prolific offenders; a high-profile national crime prevention awareness campaign, and targeted crime prevention advice for local communities and enhanced supports for victims.

I am confident that this comprehensive operation by An Garda Síochána, supported by Government investment in Garda resources and personnel, will disrupt the activities of burglars, organised crime gangs and prolific offenders and will improve the safety of all our communities across the country.

Top
Share