asked the Minister for Justice the number of additional gardaí allocated to the Malahide, Rush, Lusk, Swords, Skerries and Balbriggan areas for the summer months; and how these numbers compare with last summer's allocation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Dublin Gardaí.
64.
As I have indicated in answer to previous questions on this subject, it would not be in the public interest to give details of the particular police arrangements in operation during the summer months in the areas mentioned. The commissioner has informed me that he is satisfied that his arrangements will ensure an adequate police service. The total permanent strength at the stations mentioned has been increased since June, 1969.
65.
andMr. Lynch asked the Minister for Justice the total strength of the Garda Síochána at 31st March, 1948, 31st March, 1951, 31st March, 1957, and 31st March, 1970.
The actual strength of the Garda Síochána on these dates was as follows: 31st March, 1948: 7,425; 31st March, 1951: 6,943; 31st March, 1957: 6,592; 31st March, 1970: 6,540.
Would the Minister not agree that in the past 30 years the strength of the Garda Síochána has decreased substantially, that in 1940 the strength was 7,519 and that on 1st January, 1970, it was approximately 6,560? Would the Minister not agree that this is one of the factors responsible for the serious increase in crime all over the country?
No. The fact is that the strength of the Garda Síochána at present is exactly 30 below what it was on 31st March, 1957. The biggest decrease in any three year period of those covered by the question was in the period from 1948 to 1951 when there was a decrease of 482. I suppose that is a coincidence. Under the Coalition Governments there was a total decrease of 532 in the six years they were in office. There has been a decrease of 30 in the last 13 years. That question went wrong.
I have been listening to that kind of thing too long. The Minister did not hear my explanation that the country was so much better run that there was no need for them. Does the Minister not think that if the force were brought up to 7,500 there would be less crime? Has the Minister any plans to raise the number?
I am not ruling that out. The next three questions relate to this matter in general and I think I might deal with the Deputy's supplementaries on those questions.
Arising out of the reply, for the Minister's information in 1940 the figure was——
The Deputy is not allowed to give information at Question Time.
(Interruptions.)
In view of the fact that in the 30-year period there was a reduction of over 500 in the Garda strength and that his Government have been in office since 1957 and made no attempt to correct what he now obviously sees as a mistake by the last Coalition Government——
No. We reduced the force by 30 and increased the mechanisation and radio equipment immensely.
Let me ask my question and then the Minister can answer. Is it not a fact that the first inter-Party Government found it possible to reduce the number of gardaí because they took the gun out of politics and were able to have a peaceful country?
That would appear to be a separate question.
Is it not true that as motor vehicles have been increased by about 8 per cent since the war, more gardaí are required and is it not true that the only reason why the Department of Justice are not increasing the number of gardaí is that they do not want to pay them and they are saving on the lives and property of the people? They will not employ gardaí even though they can get them—is that not true?
That is absolute nonsense——
(Interruptions.)
Sometimes Ministers are allowed to speak in this House by courtesy of the Opposition. Occasionally, they get a word in edgeways. If they get more than one or two words in they are called arrogant.
The Minister's reply clearly indicated that the strength of the Garda since 1951 has been decreasing steadily. At present there has been a 12 per cent increases in crime all over the country and, in fact, a 17 per cent increase outside the Dublin metropolitan area. Surely the Minister must agree that one of the factors involved in this increase in crime is the reduction of the strength of the Garda Síochána?
I do not agree. As I have already pointed out, if I could go on to the next three questions, which raise more general matters of the kind now raised by Deputy Enright, I could perhaps deal more adequately with these points then.
Let me ask one further supplementary question. Is it not a fact that the figures he gave us show a reduction of 900—from 7,400 in 1948 to 6,540 this year? Is not this reduction obviously one of the causes of the serious increase in crime?
No. First, in regard to the reduction, most of it was during the years of the Coalition period.
(Interruptions.)
The Minister must be allowed to answer.
Would the Minister not agree that there was no real necessity to keep up the strength of the Garda force during the period the Coalition were in power due to the mass emigration?
That has nothing to do with the question.
That may well be correct. I commend that answer to Deputies opposite.
Could the Minister tell us if any gardaí were shot dead and their murderers not apprehended during the period of the Coalition Government?
I am calling Question No. 66.