asked the Minister for Justice (a) the number of gardaí by which the force is understrength; (b) the number of recruits who passed the examination for the gardaí in each of the three last three years; (c) the number called up; and (d) why all those who qualified were not called up in order to bring the force up to full strength.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Garda Strength.
25.
The approved strength of the force is 6,560 and this number varies from day to day according as members retire or recruits are drafted. Sometimes the figure is slightly below 6,560 and sometimes slightly above. At present the force is eight above the approved strength. The numbers who passed the Garda examination in the past three years were 861 in 1967, 435 in 1968 and 491 in 1969 and the numbers called up were 441, 202 and 370 respectively.
Is the Minister not aware of the widespread statements of people, not only of the Garda authorities, but of various public bodies and of Members of this House, to the effect that the Garda force is very much under strength in various areas? Further, would the Minister explain why so many young people who are eligible for membership of the Garda Síochána and who qualify in the necessary tests, are not called?
Everybody who passes the test in the current year is being called whereas this was not so in previous years because the number who were called were adequate to bring the force up to its approved strength.
Is it not some years ago since the approved strength was fixed?
As far as I can remember, it was fixed in 1967.
Could the Minister say when the previous arrangement was made and what was the figure then? Was not the 1967 figure only a very small change from the previous one?
The figures vary from time to time. In 1959 it was 6,563 which was only three more than the figure set in 1967.
Would it not be necessary to increase the approved strength?
It may be necessary to do that in the future but my view on the matter is that, until the existing strength is redeployed or rationalsed, I would hardly be justified in endeavouring to increase the approved strength.
Question No. 26.
Is the Minister not aware that here in Dublin city we hear the complaint again and again that the force is understaffed and that any time extra gardaí are needed for a particular area, the reply given is that the force is under strength and that, therefore, the extra gardaí cannot be supplied? If this is true, surely it is only right that those who are eligible for membership of the force should be called, or is it again a question of money?
As far as I can remember, the number of gardaí in the Dublin metropolitan area is more than 2,300 and this is more than a third of the entire force. It is also the largest number ever to be stationed in the Dublin metropolitan area.
Is it not the case that the force is still very much under strength?
I am calling question No. 26.
The force may be under strength in particular areas and at particular times but what we have been trying to do in the past and what we will continue to do in the future is to endeavour to redeploy members in the areas where the need is greatest.
Is the Minister saying that it is a question of taking a guard from a country station and bringing him to the city?