Deputy Pat McCartan gave me notice of his intention to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of the lack of adequate policing in Dublin north-east and the problems arising therefrom.
Adjournment Debate. - Dublin North-East Policing.
I would like to thank you for allowing me to raise this important matter on the Adjournment debate tonight. In addressing the inadequacy of policing in Dublin north-east, I speak on behalf of every Member of the constituency of Dublin north-east, an area that is served primarily by three police stations under the subdivision headquarters at Santry. The stations are Coolock, Raheny and Howth.
I wish at the outset to pay tribute to the gardaí of each of these stations to their superintendent and to their superiors for the very excellent job they are doing in circumstances where they are clearly not being helped by the current Government and Minister. When one looks at the staffing statistics of the three Garda stations over the past five years the picture clearly emerges. One starts with the most easterly of the three Garda stations, Howth, which in 1984 boasted 41 members of the Garda and currently on its 1988 allocation has 37 members, a drop of four in that period. Raheny in 1984 boasted 62 members and currently has 61. Coolock Garda Station in 1984 had 98 members and currently has 105, but that must be contrasted with the figure in 1986 when it had an allocation of 110. In the last two years the busiest station, arguably, in the area has lost five members.
One must put Coolock and Dublin north-east in the overall context of crime nationally. The Garda Síochána Commissioner's report indicates that 61.9 per cent of all crime recorded is within the confines of the Dublin metropolitan area. On the other hand, crime detected is 28.2 per cent. Those figures indicating the Dublin scene are very strongly reflected in the comparable figures for the Dublin north-east constituency and indicate the scale of the job expected of our Garda. In another context, Coolock Garda station polices a population equal to that of Limerick city which can boast of a minimum of three if not four, Garda stations — I am not exactly sure how many — but far more resources are spread over a greater geographic area than that of the north-east constituency, and more particularly the catchment area of Coolock.
One of the issues related to the Coolock Garda station has been the campaign of the people in the Donaghmede area for years for the establishment of another Garda station there. This area has expanded rapidly over the years, is in the catchment area of Coolock Garda station and contains within it some of the districts most geographically remote from the station. Some time ago a Garda clinic was opened in the Donaghmede shopping centre. It was originally envisaged to have a complement of a minimum of eight gardaí assigned to it on the basis that it would operate on a 24 hour roster. However, since it has been opened — and it has worked as well as could be expected, again within its constraints — it opens on only six days a week, excluding Sundays, from 10 a.m. to midday, 2.30 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., again depending on the availability of the gardaí assigned to it, not the eight as originally envisaged but far fewer than that. I understand from a recent answer from the Minister in the House that he does not intend to expand that service and establish a proper Garda station in the area. The need for a Garda station additional to those existing and located in the Donaghmede area I believe is unanswerable and until this Government are prepared to acknowledge the huge workload that rests on the shoulders of the gardaí in the three stations in Dublin north-east I do not think we can make a great deal of progress with that issue. Nonetheless, we cannot get away from this problem, and we will not.
In the event that the Minister and Government are not prepared to expend the obvious needed funding for an expansion of the Garda station network in the constituency, I argue that certainly the complement of gardaí assigned to the various stations must be dramatically improved. There is great need to get back to and expand the numbers that were there so many years ago as illustrated by the figures.
Another area of major concern is the non-expansion of the Garda community schemes, that have operated in the area since February 1988. We understood these were being introduced as pilot schemes in that month and would operate in three locations — the Darndale-Belcamp area, Edenmore and Woodbine, and Priorswood and Riverside estates with two gardaí in each estate, and they would carry out their tours of duty in the area whenever on duty and available. As a pilot scheme that has worked remarkably well but, unfortunately, its introduction has raised expectations, but deserved expectations, that should be fulfilled and met. The concept of community policing must now be acknowledged as a resounding success in areas where it has been introduced as a pilot scheme and it must now be expanded but, let us be clear, it can be expanded only by the allocation of additional gardaí. No one contends that the gardaí currently rostered in these stations for other duties should be taken off them and made available for community work. The concept is a good one and in this regard in July of this year I made the case in a statement in response to the Garda crime figures then released that "it was a time to review manning policy and provision must be made for the greater use of civilian personnel in back-up roles". I noted in November of this year that the Minister has responded to that suggestion and is now embarking upon a programme of introducing civilian personnel into the force, consequently releasing very experienced and useful members of the Garda from desk duties into the community. That process if it is the only vehicle for the recruitment of additional staff to the Dublin north-east area, must be given priority consideration.
One particularly important and worrying aspect of the inadequacy of policing in the three stations is the juvenile liaison officer scheme located at Coolock Garda station. Recently the scheme, which boasted a sergeant and three members, was operating on one member only, and on weekdays exclusively. Because of the ban an overtime and the non-availability of funds, juvenile liaison officer schemes around the city and in the country, not only in Coolock but elsewhere, were constrained to work hours other than weekends. Surely that is the time when the juvenile liaison officer scheme should be operating most effectively. In addition in the Coolock area one member had gone to Namibia — no one would wish him other than well there — and the other juvenile liaison officer had been on maternity duty. Again I wish her well. I understand her confinement was successful and she is now back on duty. But this meant that for a considerable time the juvenile liaison officer scheme was over-stretched and overworked. I make an urgent plea that as a basic minimum the juvenile liaison officer scheme be kept to full complement and that they be allowed work at weekends when young people need most supervision, when they are out of school and perhaps away from immediate parental notice as parents may be shopping, etc. at weekends. That is a crucial minimum.
The final matter that concerns me is the non-availability of a school attendance officer. A member of the Garda Síochána has been appointed temporarily to this position. For a long time, I understand, there was no such officer in the area. This is another cause of concern. This is consistent with the picture that emerges of Dublin north-east and from information received from the Minister in answer to questions in the recent past, things are not good in the constituency.
There is need for improvement of the service, for an increase in the number of police cars available for patrolling and, most important of all, there is a need for more gardaí to be assigned to the stations so that the community policing project can be extended. I hope the Minister will respond positively to the concerns I have raised.
The Minister for Justice is away on official duty this evening and I am standing in on his behalf. I would like at the outset to pay tribute to the gardaí and, in particular, to the new Commissioner, Commissioner Crowley, who is now coming to the end of his first year. Indeed, in relation to the Howth, Raheny and Coolock districts in particular, I would like to pay tribute to Superintendent Curran and Superintendent Geary, with whom I worked frequently in relation to the problems referred to this evening and to Chief Superintendent Moore who has been particularly helpful in resolving many of the difficulties which have arisen. We have had excellent co-operation from the gardaí in that area generally and especially with the local communities in the neighbourhood watch groups. I have made the needs of the area very clear to the Minister and he has recognised them. Indeed, the pilot scheme of policing and community policing in the areas ranging from Kilbarrack to Coolock has been very successful, as stated by the Deputy.
I should like to say at the outset that the Government are fully conscious of the concern of the public that our basic right as citizens to go about our business, without fear of attack or interference is protected. I know that the elderly, in particular, are concerned that there should be an adequate level of policing in their neighbourhood and that there should be a swift response by the Garda to any call for assistance. Indeed, I might say to the Deputy who is a councillor in Dublin Corporation that there are also corporation elements in it in relation to roads, housing and the care of the elderly and it is also important that there is a contribution from that side to assist the Garda. That comes to mind particularly in relation to the needs of the elderly.
The Minister for Justice has taken action to ensure a more visible Garda presence on the streets and cities of our towns. Last week he announced a major crime fighting package for 1990 in which funding is being made available to provide the necessary resources to meet this objective. With the basic aim of increasing the number of gardaí on the beat, the Government have authorised a number of major initiatives. I emphasise, to the Deputy that the principal requirement is to increase the number of gardaí on the beat and increase their visibility in the community. These are as follows, first, arrangements are being made for the appointment of 250 civilian clerical staff to work in Garda offices and thereby release gardaí for operational duties in the prevention and detection of crime for which they were recruited and trained. I think the Minister deserves to be congratulated for taking that step. The need for this has been pointed out over many years. He has taken this step recently and it is something which will be beneficial to the areas in question.
All areas will benefit from the appointment of these extra staff, including stations on the north side of Dublin. The Civil Service Commission have already started the necessary arrangements to recruit these staff and, while it is too early yet for me to say when such staff will be available for assignment to particular Garda stations, the indications are that the first staff will be available early in the New Year. That is an action programme and a speedy response.
Second, the Minister for Justice has made regulations to extend the retirement age to 60 in the case of 250 gardaí in the ranks of Garda, sergeant and inspector who would be due to retire on reaching the age of 57 before the end of 1991. That will also help to increase the presence of gardaí in the community.
Third, the pace of recruitment of 1,000 trainee gardaí is being accelerated; 348 trainees will be taken on during 1990, which is 50 more than originally planned; 260 young men and women will become full attested members of the Force next year, 86 of whom are already on the streets of Dublin as part of their initial training and 86 additional gardaí trainees will commence doing their on-the-job training in Dublin on Monday next.
As well as having more gardaí on the beat, the Government have acted to ensure that those members of the force have the appropriate technical back-up and that criminals they apprehend actually serve their sentences. The crime-fighting package for 1990 provides for the creation of 300 extra prison spaces over the next 12 to 18 months. These places will start to be filled in the new Wheatfield prison in January next. Later on more places will be taken up in the refurbished St. Patrick's Institution and in the new cell block in Limerick.
The Deputy will be aware that those who are found guilty must be contained for a reasonable period. Much of the crime is committed by people who have been before the court and who are out again. The gardaí know them, the people in the community know them, I know them and I am sure the Deputy knows a good number of them. One of the problems has been the lack of adequate space to detain them. The Minister is taking action in that area.
A new approach to policing in the Dublin suburbs is well underway at this point involving the assignment of individual gardaí to local neighbourhoods on a full-time basis. Community policing has already proved a popular and effective means of improving law enforcement throughout Dublin. I understand the question of extending this scheme to new areas of the city and of allocating additional gardaí to it is under active consideration. I believe the Minister hopes to be in a position to make an important announcement on this matter shortly.
Turning to the Dublin north area, in particular, I can say that this area, in common with all other Garda divisions, will benefit from the measures announced by the Minister last week and from the forthcoming community policing initiative. I am not, of course, in a position to be specific about the precise number of gardaí and clerical staff involved but I can assure the Deputy and this House that my ministerial colleague is well aware of the policing needs of Dublin north-east and that he will ensure that the Garda authorities take these needs into account when the additional resources become available.
In the meantime the Garda authorities have assured the Minister that the current strength of 238 gardaí assigned to the four stations in Dublin north-east is being used to the best possible advantage. Every effort is being made and will continue to be made to ensure that the gardaí in this area will respond quickly to every request for assistance.
Finally, in the lead-up to Christmas the Minister, with the approval of the Government, has approved an additional £500,000 for overtime to ensure a very full police presence on the streets of Dublin at this crucial time. This is effective action taken by the Minister which will ensure that more gardaí will be on the streets in the period leading up to Christmas. Overtime for 1990 has been increased by £2.85 million over this year's allocation which will ensure the flexibility which the Garda need.
The Deputy will be aware that this time leading up to Christmas is a particularly difficult one for the Garda, when their task is especially important. The Minister recognises this and is applying all the additional resources he can to immediately tackle this problem in co-operation with the Garda Síochána. He is also taking measures which will ensure that as we go into the New Year the position of the Garda Síochána in the community will be greatly strengthened. This is something which I know will be welcomed both by the Garda and the community in general.
The Dáil adjourned at 9.45 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 29 November 1989.