Garda Stations

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 November 2016

Tuesday, 15 November 2016

Questions (29)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

29. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda stations that are operating on a part-time basis, that is, less than a full 24-hour period; the provisions that have been made to compensate districts affected by a reduced face-to-face service with An Garda Síochána and-or a station operating on reduced hours; when the six stations due to reopen under a pilot scheme will do so and their locations; her plans to extend this pilot scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34842/16]

Oral answers (6 contributions)

Deputy Catherine Murphy

This question relates to the number of Garda stations that are open on a part-time basis and to a pilot proposal to open an additional six stations, and if there is any intention to expand the scheme beyond those six stations.

Deputy Frances Fitzgerald

As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is primarily responsible for the distribution of Garda resources in the State and, as Minister, I have no direct role in the matter.

I have, however, been informed by the Garda authorities that Garda personnel assigned throughout the country, together with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy, are continually monitored and reviewed and are determined by a number of factors, including population, crime trends and other operational strategies, as dictated by the policing needs of each individual division. The Policing Authority is also examining the question of allocating appropriate resources to different areas.

I am advised that some 125 Garda stations operate on a 24-hour basis throughout the State, with 439 not operating on that basis. Certain stations operate up to 14 hours per day, while the opening hours of others depend on the availability of resources. The Garda authorities are satisfied that the restructured station network continues to provide the necessary levels of policing services through a centralisation of services which in turn has facilitated the introduction of enhanced patrolling systems that are operational and intelligence led. As we recruit more gardaí there will be more visibility, which is important, and more community-oriented police services. There are several benefits which unfortunately I do not have time to detail. We have the funding for 800 Garda recruits and up to 500 civilians and the capital plan provides €205 million for investment in the information and telecommunications infrastructure.

I have requested the Garda Commissioner, while fully cognisant of her statutory functions in relation to the distribution of Garda resources in the State, to identify six stations for reopening on a pilot basis in line with the commitment in the programme for a partnership Government. This pilot scheme is intended to feed into the wider review being overseen by the Policing Authority into, among other things, the dispersal of Garda stations in rural areas. The authority has formally requested the Garda Síochána Inspectorate to examine the dispersal and use of resources available to the Garda Síochána in the delivery of policing services to local communities and to make recommendations.

Deputy Catherine Murphy

Many stations are open in theory but in fact they are closed most of the time. That is one of the criticisms I hear constantly. It will be important that the Policing Authority will consider the policing plans. I have never found, and I have looked at them each year, that they really do what the Minister says they should do, in other words, the demographic shifts and crime levels determine the level of cover. That does not seem to correlate. I have looked at them every year and made the same criticism every year. What is positive this year is that the Policing Authority will consider it. Presumably it will have a role in respect of the service level agreements for the opening of these six stations. Is it intended then to open further stations or will the evaluation be carried out in respect of those that are opened on a pilot basis?

Deputy Frances Fitzgerald

The pilot would inform the other aspect of the work that is being done by the Garda Inspectorate. It will be in a position to inform the broader review. I agree with the Deputy and think it is extremely important that the Garda Inspectorate is examining in detail the dispersal and use of resources available to the Garda Síochána in the delivery of policing services to local communities and will make recommendations to provide a more effective, visible and responsive policing service. The needs vary quite considerably throughout the country. If the Deputy examines the statistics for crime, there are huge variations and there are trends at different times where one type of crime may replace another or comes to the surface and needs to be dealt with. That does need resources to be used in a flexible way. The Deputy made a point about a certain inflexibility in that regard in the past. It is really important that the Garda Commissioner is in a position to respond in a flexible way and move the resources to where they are needed and that is certainly the intention in the context of the examination taking place.

Deputy Catherine Murphy

I welcome the fact that the Policing Authority will have a look at this. When we, the Deputies of Kildare, met the assistant commissioner on a number of occasions, we were pretty much told that what one has one holds, and that was the approach. That flies in the face of policing plans being what they are supposed to be, which is a dynamic and responsive approach to change. One issue that might come up in the choice of the potential opening of police stations is the availability of stations. Obviously, some of them were closed with the intention of being sold or being used for something else. If there is to be a change in that approach, it is very important that there is the scope not to have to rebuy premises, if there are good premises in a location, and there is a rethink on a Garda station for that area. It is important that is reviewed as a matter of urgency. Obviously, it will limit the scope of opening stations on the basis of need.

Deputy Frances Fitzgerald

I will put some statistics on the record. There are 564 Garda stations in the State. This compares very favourably with comparable jurisdictions. For example, in Northern Ireland in 2012, there were 86 police stations providing policing services to a population of €1.5 million. In Scotland, the ratio is approximately 340 stations to 5.2 million people. We have to bear that in mind and ask the question: what is the best type of police force and police response that we need to see in order to deal with emerging crime trends? What does 21st-century policing look like? It is very important that we have a mobile and visible force responding to crime in various areas. I take the point the Deputy is making that people feel a reassurance from local Garda stations, but we have to examine precisely what works best. That is what we are trying to do in looking at the police strategy and the role of the Policing Authority and in overseeing the priority areas that An Garda Síochána has identified for the coming year and the future.