Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 November 2016
169. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which community policing remains available to the various Garda divisions throughout the country; the extent to which this continues to be a feature of policing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35210/16]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the Government has, in its Programme for a Partnership Government, recognised community policing as 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 visible, effective and responsive policing in every community throughout the country in order to provide reassurance to citizens and prevent crime. This commitment is underlined by very significant investments in Garda resources.
Community Policing continues to be a key aspect of the Garda approach to the prevention and detection of crime. Gardaí engage with a wide range of community based groups, as well in more formal setting such as Joint Policing Committees, to ensure that local issues can be aired and appropriate partnerships formed with communities to address matters of concern.
Gardaí also support over 3,700 Community Alert and Neighbourhood Watch Schemes nationwide, and these form an important partnership with An Garda Síochána to prevent crime and protect communities, especially the elderly and more vulnerable persons. In addition, the Garda Text Alert Scheme provides an effective means for Gardaí to communicate crime prevention information to local communities. Since it was launched in September 2013, it has grown quickly with a total of 164,000 subscribers and in the order of 3 million text messages sent annually. Every Garda Division, rural and urban, now offers the text alert service and An Garda Síochána has published guidelines to assist in the establishment and operation of local groups.
I was glad to announce a new cost rebate scheme recently which will assist local text alert groups with the costs incurred from service providers. The scheme is administered by Muintir na Tire and is open to all Text Alert groups registered with An Garda Síochána. Overall, the funding available from my Department for Community Crime Prevention, such as Community Alert and Text Alert, has been doubled in 2016.
On 9 June 2016 the Garda Commissioner launched a five year programme to professionalise, modernise and renew An Garda Síochána, to ensure that it can meet present and future policing and security challenges. Important elements of the Garda plan include:
- increased Garda visibility with crime prevention being the number one priority
- victims being placed at the heart of the Garda service
- introduction of advanced IT systems to enhance the investigation of crime
- enhanced collaboration with national and international partners to tackle and disrupt terrorism and organised crime.
The Garda modernisation plan was developed with the benefit of inputs from Garda personnel and community stakeholders, as well as the experience of police forces in other jurisdictions. The measures in the plan also respond to reports and recommendations of the Garda Inspectorate and the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.
In conclusion, all Garda activities, including community policing, will undoubtedly benefit from the resources now coming on stream through the Garda recruitment programme, and in particular the Government's commitment to increase Garda numbers to 15,000, so that An Garda Síochána has the capacity to address the needs of communities throughout the country and into the future.
