Will the Minister outline what steps the Garda propose to take to deal with this very serious problem of vandalism and intimidation being experienced by the residents on the north side of the city?
I have been concerned for some considerable time about the policy of policing in Cork. I should like to refer to a copy of the Evening Echo of Wednesday, 26th June 1985. I expressed concern that the special Garda units operating out of the new headquarters in Mayfield and Gurranabraher were being disbanded. I felt that that was a retrograde step. The areas affected by that move were Gurranabraher, Farranree, Knocknaheeny, Churchfield, The Glen, Mayfield and Fairhill. At that time I also indicated that the new districts would not help the gardaí to carry out their job in an efficient manner.
I will give one example. The district headquarters at Gurranabraher includes the Blarney and Ballincollig Garda stations. If the gardaí in Gurranabraher are unavailable for any reason, then gardaí from Ballincollig are called upon to assist. Ballincollig station is eight miles from Gurranabraher and is on the south-west side of Cork city.
An urgent review of the districts is necessary to give a better service to the community. In my area of Farranree, for instance, three Garda stations cover a portion of the parish — the Watercourse Road, the Mallow Road and Gurranabraher. This is a clear indication of the urgent need for reorganisation of the districts.
A number of incidents have been reported in the press recently and people are very concerned at the increase in vandalism and the lack of Garda presence in the area. Additional gardaí are needed to develop Community Watch and close liaison with the Garda. I strongly urge the Minister to give consideration to the provision of additional gardaí to the Cork area. Many new gardaí were passed out recently but, unfortunately, they appear to be going in one direction, and that is not in the direction of Cork. By a reorganisation of the districts in Cork and the provision of additional manpower, the Minister would go a long way towards allaying the fears and anxieties of the community at large.
I should like the Minister to give me an assurance this evening in relation to community gardaí, Community Watch and community policing. A haphazard approach is being taken in this area, in that gardaí who have been assigned to duties in Mayfield and Gurranabraher in particular have built up a good relationship with the community but then, all of a sudden, if there is a manpower shortage they are put out on ordinary duties. That is a retrograde step which is destroying relationships which the gardaí concerned have built up in that community. I strongly urge the Minister to give me an assurance in the Dáil this afternoon in relation to that matter.
I raise this issue here this afternoon not as a criticism of the Garda, although it is a criticism of the administration. That method can be improved. We are calling for efficiency in health, education and the environment and we must call for efficiency in justice as well.
I look forward to the Minister's reply.