asked the Minister for Justice if he has noted the editorial in the current issue of the Garda Review; and if he will make a statement on the demand for more men on the beat.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - “Garda Review” Editorial.
2.
I have seen the editorial referred to. A decision to increase the overall strength of the force would be a matter for the Government, and I am not in a position at this stage to say if a further increase will be decided on. I do not rule out the possibility that a further increase in the strength of the force will be decided on but I would point out that it has already been increased by almost 2,000, or approximately 30 per cent, since March, 1971 and that the Estimate for the Garda Síochána for 1976 stands at £57.8 million.
One way or the other, it behoves us to ensure that the resources available for policing are utilised to the best possible advantage and I expect that the work of the management consultants who are carrying out an assignment in respect of the Garda Síochána will assist in ensuring the most efficient deployment of those resources.
Would the Minister agree that this editorial was based on the present strength of the Garda and would he accept that views such as those should get serious consideration? Would he agree that the Garda have not enough men on the ground throughout the country and that this is so particularly in Border areas?
I agree with the Deputy that, although those views in that journal are not official, they merit consideration and indeed the editorial was sensitive to the Garda image in the context of a crime wave that was occurring at that time. Subsequent events have more than restored public confidence in the force, if indeed it needed restoration. On the question of numerical strength, as I have indicated, management consultants are engaged in an in-depth survey of the force and we hope to have the report in July or August of this year. I think it would be wrong to anticipate the findings of that survey in regard to an increase in numbers. The sensible thing is to wait until the report is to hand in a matter of a couple of months.
Is the Minister aware that the Garda themselves say that the basic principles of policing and fighting crime are being largely abandoned in the interests of economy? Is he aware that the Garda are saying they could do much better in the fight against crime and violence if the resources were made available to them? Can the Minister say if even the most generous resources which are available to him are being used as they should be? If they were, normal policing would not be as neglected as it is.
I reject the implication that normal policing is being neglected. That is not so. To equate the numbers of gardaí to the crime rate is fallacious. There is no mathematical connection between the two. Even if we had treble the number of gardaí there is no guarantee the crime rate would drop. I am not aware of the statements the Deputy attributed to the Garda in regard to the numbers.
Is the Minister aware that he, in his capacity as Minister, and the Garda Commissioner received a communication from the Garda Representative Body about five or six weeks ago to the effect that the Government's decision to cut back on funds for the Garda Síochána has led to chaos within the Garda and to a serious reduction in ordinary policing? This is a statement from the Garda Representative Body of which the Minister must surely be aware, and would he comment on it?
I am afraid I cannot accept the Deputy's paraphrase of communications received by me and/or the Commissioner in that particular area. It is not an accurate paraphrase.
Would the Minister say whether or not he received a communication from the Garda Representative Body last March on this subject?
I receive many communications from the Garda Representative Body. It would be entirely inappropriate that correspondence sent to me on a confidential basis would be disclosed here.
Is the Minister aware that the correspondence about which I am talking has been in the Press and that copies of the circular are freely available to any Member of this House?
If the correspondence is in the Press I do not see the point in the Deputy's question.
Question No. 3.
Would the Minister not agree that he cannot hide behind the answer he gave a few minutes ago, that he could not comment on what was said in that it was confidential? Now that I have got the Minister to agree that this correspondence has been made public, will the Minister now say whether or not the large scale reduction of funds available to guards—so that they may carry out their duties— has had a disastrous effect on the force, that the morale of the Garda is at a very low ebb at present and that this is what the Garda themselves say?
Order. I have allowed a lot of latitude on this question. Question No. 3.
What the Deputy is saying is wrong.
On a point of order, I wish to give notice that I propose to raise the subject matter of this question on the Adjournment this evening.
I will communicate with the Deputy.