asked the Minister for Justice what is the present strength of the Garda in Dublin; and if he is aware of the need to increase the number of Gardaí in order to combat the number of cases of housebreaking, vandalism and rowdyism and to provide more effective traffic control.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Garda Strength.
54.
The nominal strength of the Garda Síochána in the Dublin Metropolitan Division is 1,775. Actual strength fluctuates almost from day to day and may be a little above or below that figure depending on retirements and allocation of recruits at the end of their training. The present actual strength is 1,761 but 20 recruit-Gardaí are to be allocated to the Division next week.
The present strength of the Force in Dublin is, roughly, 200 higher than it was four or five years ago and, in addition, the number of cars and motor-cycles, including radio-equipped cars, at their disposal has been almost doubled. While the crime figures for the year ended 30th September last show an upward trend in housebreakings and similar offences, the figures are very much lower than they were in the years 1957 to 1959. Furthermore the detection rate is now well over 70 per cent, and is nearly 10 per cent higher than it was in 1959.
There is another Question on the Order Paper dealing specifically with vandalism and I shall, therefore, be making a separate statement on that matter.
The question whether additional members may be needed in connection with traffic control cannot be answered until the Force have experience of the enforcement of the law with the additional powers of enforcement which were given to them by the Road Traffic Act, 1961. These powers did not become effective in Dublin until the 1st April and their effect in terms of manpower requirements cannot be estimated for some time yet.