Garda Recruitment

Thursday, 7 July 2016

Questions (66)

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

66. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she supports a request (details supplied) for the urgent recruitment of two community gardaí in County Wicklow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20133/16]

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Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and Districts, and I as Minister have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keep this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources.

I have been informed that there are 15 dedicated Community Gardaí assigned to the Wicklow Garda Division. The distribution of Gardaí and Community Gardaí throughout the Division on the 31 May 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available, is set out in the following table.

Of course, it is the case that all Gardaí have a role to play in addressing community policing issues as and when the need arises. In that sense, community policing involves far more than a single unit within An Garda Síochána, a point highlighted by the Garda Inspectorate in their third report entitled "Policing in Ireland - Looking Forward" in which they stated that community policing is a fundamental policing philosophy and that there is a strong foundation for it in Ireland.

The Programme for a Partnership Government recognises that community policing is the embodiment of An Garda Síochána, providing a means of recognising that every community – both urban and rural – has its own concerns and expectations. It commits the Government to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime. Key to achieving this goal is the commitment in the Programme to continue the ongoing accelerated Garda recruitment programme with a view to increasing Garda numbers to 15,000 as well as doubling the Garda Reserve and increasing the number of civilian staff so as to free-up Gardaí for front-line policing. Community policing, and all other Garda activities, will undoubtedly benefit from the resources now coming on stream through the accelerated Garda recruitment programme.

The Garda Commissioner's Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021, published on 9 June 2016, places a strong emphasis on developing and supporting the community policing ethos of the organisation and enhancing the current delivery model so that Gardaí spend more time in the community, gaining public confidence and trust and providing a greater sense of security. I welcome in particular the proposal to establish local Community Policing Teams (CPTs) headed by an Inspector and made up of Gardaí from across a range of areas to work with the community to prevent and detect crime. The CPTs will take proactive measures to prevent crime from happening in the area. This will entail a combination of crime prevention advice, targeting and disrupting criminals through operations and patrols, and where possible diverting people from committing crime. I also welcome the proposal to establish Community Safety Fora in every District comprising local Gardaí, local communities and key stakeholders. The implementation of these initiatives has started and will be rolled out nationwide.

WICKLOW GARDA DIVISION 31 May 2016

DISTRICT	STATION	Comm Gardaí	TOTAL
	BALTINGLASS	1	34
	BLESSINGTON	1	22
	CARNEW		4
	DUNLAVIN		2
	SHILLELAGH		1
BALTINGLASS	TINAHELY		2
		BALTINGLASS Total	65
	BRAY	7	116
	ENNISKERRY		3
	GREYSTONES	2	26
BRAY	NEWTOWNMOUNTKENNEDY		3
		BRAY Total	148
	ARKLOW	4	33
	ASHFORD		9
	AUGHRIM		2
	AVOCA		2
	RATHDRUM		4
	ROUNDWOOD		3
WICKLOW	WICKLOW		43
		Wicklow Total 15	96
		WICKLOW DIVISION TOTAL	309