Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 July 2017
37. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí in each Garda station in west Cork as of 30 June 2017; and the number of new recruits assigned to the division since recruitment resumed in 2014. [32850/17]
View answerI congratulate the Minister on his recent appointment and wish him well. I ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí in each Garda station in west Cork as of 30 June 2017; and the number of new recruits assigned to the division since recruitment resumed in 2014.
I refer Deputy Murphy O'Mahony to the table showing the figure for the Cork west division as of 31 May 2017, which totals 284 gardaí. In her own district, there are 34 in Bantry and five in Castletownbere, as well as gardaí in Drimoleague, Durrus, Glengariff, Kealkill and Schull. In the Clonakilty division there are a total of 60 gardaí.
The Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country, including in west Cork, in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and to the constituents of Deputy Murphy O'Mahony, and deter crime. To make this a reality, the Government has in place a detailed plan to achieve an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel, comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 reserve members and 4,000 civilians. In 2017, funding has been provided for the recruitment of 800 Garda recruits and up to 500 civilians to support the wide-ranging reform plan in train in An Garda Síochána. I am keen that the organisation continues to rebuild and that the Government continues to provide the Commissioner with the resources she needs to allow her to deploy increasing numbers of gardaí across every Garda division, including west Cork.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House
Cork west division 31 May 2017
|
DISTRICT |
STATION |
TOTAL |
|
BANDON |
BALLINEEN |
2 |
|
BALLINHASSIG |
2 |
|
|
BANDON |
84 |
|
|
INNISHANNON |
1 |
|
|
KILBRITTAIN |
1 |
|
|
KINSALE |
15 |
|
|
TIMOLEAGUE |
1 |
|
|
TOTAL |
106 |
|
|
BANTRY |
BANTRY |
34 |
|
CASTLETOWNBERE |
5 |
|
|
DRIMOLEAGUE |
1 |
|
|
DURRUS |
1 |
|
|
GLENGARRIFF |
1 |
|
|
KEALKIL |
1 |
|
|
SCHULL |
4 |
|
|
TOTAL |
47 |
|
|
CLONAKILTY |
BALTIMORE |
1 |
|
CLONAKILTY |
34 |
|
|
DRINAGH |
1 |
|
|
DUNMANWAY |
11 |
|
|
ROSSCARBERY |
1 |
|
|
SKIBBEREEN |
12 |
|
|
TOTAL |
60 |
|
|
MACROOM |
BAILE BHUIRNE |
2 |
|
BÉAL ÁTHA AN GHAORTHA |
2 |
|
|
COACHFORD |
1 |
|
|
CROOKSTOWN |
11 |
|
|
MACROOM |
38 |
|
|
MILLSTREET |
14 |
|
|
RATHMORE |
1 |
|
|
STUAKE |
1 |
|
|
TARELTON |
1 |
|
|
TOTAL |
71 |
|
|
CORK WEST TOTAL |
|
284 |
My sources advise me that there have been 15 recruitments to west Cork since 2014. There have been 15 recruits over four huge divisions in three years. This hardly inspires confidence and at this rate it will be some time before Garda numbers are increased to 15,000, as provided for in the confidence and supply arrangement. West Cork has a population of over 105,000 with a wide geographical spread of over 100 miles. There needs to be a strong Garda presence in rural areas and this is not the case at the moment. Rural Ireland has to deal with the fact that many Garda stations have been closed, a move which completely decimated the forces of law and order in many areas. Crime and anti-social behaviour are on the increase all over west Cork and the absence of gardaí facilitates this.
I reject the assertion that the withdrawal of Garda services from smaller Garda stations is in any way associated with an increase in crime. In fact the figures state the opposite - there has been a decrease in crimes against property. I assure Deputy Murphy O'Mahony that the focus of investment in personnel is critical and the Garda Commissioner informs me that 15 newly-attested gardaí have been assigned to the west Cork division since the reopening of the college. The Deputy will be aware of the moratorium on Garda recruitment which was introduced in 2010, which resulted in a significant reduction in the strength of An Garda Síochána. I am committed to a rebuilding programme, in terms of numbers and facilities. Personnel are important but we have also made available some €205 million in additional funding for Garda ICT, some of which has been expended in the Cork area, and €46 million for new Garda vehicles, which are important in the context of the Deputy's question, which referred to 105,000 people spread over an area of 100 miles. These investments, along with increased personnel, will facilitate the provision of a more effective policing service. I have no doubt that the new resources coming on stream will produce an increase in Garda visibility in west Cork.
We are due to take Topical Issues. Deputy Durkan is present but there is no Minister so the Deputy may ask a further supplementary question.
There are five community gardaí in the entire west Cork division. I am advised that, from current resources, the chief superintendent has secured eight detectives and one detective sergeant, but these members now need to be urgently replaced. The Garda cannot be held responsible in circumstances where adequate numbers are not maintained and I call on the Minister to address this matter without delay.
I am pleased the Deputy mentioned community policing because community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána. It recognises that every community, rural and otherwise, has its own concerns, priorities and expectations of An Garda Síochána and I welcome the strong emphasis of the modernisation and renewal programme, MRP, on further developing and supporting the ethos of community policing. This enables gardaí to spend more time in the community, allows them to gain the trust and confidence of local communities and provides a greater level of security in communities. I refer the Deputy to the community policing framework initiative in which community policing teams, comprising gardaí from a range of areas, will be set up. These teams will work with local communities to prevent and detect crime in their locality and each will be supported by the community safety forum.
These forums, which will comprise local gardaí, members of the public and members of community groups, will promote crime prevention strategies. This will ensure a clear and consistent approach to community policing and a better service for communities in west Cork, Carlow-Kilkenny and, in the case of Deputy Healy-Rae, Kerry.
