Vol. 493 No. 2
10 Mr. Lenihan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans or proposals, if any, he has in relation to ensuring that Garda numbers will be increased to their full complement of 12,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15354/98]
17 Mr. E. Ryan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the measures or proposals, if any, in place to reach the Government commitment to increase the Garda Síochána strength by 1,200 by the year 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15344/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 17 together. The programme for Government includes a commitment to increase Garda numbers to bring the strength of the force to 12,000. That will require the recruitment of an estimated 2,200 gardaí. I propose to achieve that over a period of five years. The intake of additional recruits to meet this target commenced in January and the intention is to recruit a total of 550 trainees during 1998.
The written tests for the 1997 Garda recruitment competition took place in September last and interviewing of candidates who were successful in those written tests is ongoing. The need for a further recruitment competition or competitions to meet the commitment in the programme for Government will be kept under review in my Department and my proposals will be a matter for consideration by the Government in due course.
I congratulate the Minister on his intention to recruit more gardaí. Does he recognise that the gardaí deployed in Border counties following the BSE crisis are doing excellent work under increased pressure? While the number of gardaí deployed there during that crisis may not have been greater than the number deployed in other counties, they worked a good deal of overtime and more resources were used. Will the Minister take special cognisance of the Border region when deploying additional gardaí given the extra pressures under which they work due to their close proximity of large urban areas in the Six Counties? I hope the Minister will reach his recruitment target within the next few years.
How could one refuse a request from Deputy Keaveney? We will keep the Border region very much in mind in the context of the allocation of additional gardaí, which is a matter for the Garda Commissioner.
Is that because of Deputy Blaney's support?
The number of gardaí recruited is a policy matter for the Government of the day. During the period of the previous Administration natural wastage outstripped recruitment. While the Garda Síochána Ranks Order 1982 provided for a maximum strength of 12,000 gardaí, that has never been achieved. The highest ever strength of the force was 11,396. It is intended to increase the number of gardaí to 12,000. That would be the maximum strength pursuant to the 1982 order. It is indicative of the Government's commitment to law and order. I assure Deputy Keaveney that her request will be communicated to the Garda Commissioner.
Regarding the additional 2,200 gardaí who will be recruited between now and the end of the programme, will the Minister indicate the number that will be deployed vis-à-vis urban and rural areas and if the present balance will be maintained?
The deployment of gardaí is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. He allocates gardaí according to where the need is greatest and I have no doubt that he will continue to pursue this policy. The recruitment of additional gardaí and increased civilisation in the force mean we will have an even more effective police force in the future.
The greater visibility of the gardaí in urban areas, particularly in Dublin, as a result of the policies pursued by this Minister and his predecessor has worked well. Crime in Dublin has been reduced. With due respect to the concerns of my rural colleagues, that policy should be maintained and the number of gardaí in Dublin increased when the new recruits come on stream.
The statistics show the greatest decrease in crime for many years and that is heartening. It is the result of a combination of factors, including tremendous police work by the Garda Síochána and the Government's policy and legislative programme.
Deputy Keaveney referred to the incidence of BSE along the Border. Does the Minister intend to introduce a disease eradication scheme to deal with the prevalence of "blue flu"?
How many civilians will be employed by the Department to replace the gardaí who will be removed from stations to go on the beat? Is the Minister aware that in certain rural areas, for example, Duleek in County Meath with which the Minister of State, Deputy Mary Wallace, will be familiar, the number of crimes being reported is one in three and that the lack of gardaí in the area has led to a huge increase in the number of crimes? This was reported to Deputy Higgins and me yesterday.
The same system of reporting has been in existence for some time. Indeed, with the introduction of crime stoppers in Dublin the facility for reporting crime or giving information in relation to crime has improved. It is always difficult to say how much crime is being reported. When comparing one year with another, one can only say that the system in place was the same so, all else being equal, if the figures go up or down they indicate an increase or decrease. It is true that some crimes are unreported but it would be churlish of the Deputy not to accept that there has been a significant improvement.
The Minister did not answer my other question.
In so far as civilians are required to replace gardaí who are doing bureaucratic work, the number of civilians will be equivalent to the number required to do that work. I assume that would be a one to one ratio.
The Minister did not say how many.
I welcome the Minister's proposals to increase the number of gardaí. Deputy Ryan made the case for allocating the increased number to Dublin and Deputy Keaveney made the case for the Border region. Whatever criteria apply to the deployment of gardaí, I wish to make the case for special recognition, on and above the normal ratio of gardaí per head of population, for the capital city.
That is a statement, not a supplementary question.
Other urban centres also need extra gardaí.
I accept that.
I remind the Deputies that this is Question Time, not a debate.
Deputy Callely thinks he is at a meeting of the health board.
When the Garda Síochána reaches full strength, does the Minister propose to establish special Garda forces as is the case in other countries which have tourist police forces, traffic police forces and so forth?
That is a separate issue on which the Deputy should put down a separate question.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
