Vol. 566 No. 3
125 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the Garda stations nationwide which have closed or have had a reduced complement in Garda numbers since 1997; the number of gardaí lost in each location affected; the closures and reductions proposed for the future; and the details of these locations. [12879/03]
The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has been informed by the Garda authorities that there are approximately 700 Garda stations in the country. No Garda station has been closed since 31 December 1997. The Garda authorities have made proposals to allow for the merging of Garda stations in three separate cases. These proposals have been approved by the Minister. The Garda authorities have also proposed the closure of two additional stations. Such proposals are under consideration.
The personnel strength – all ranks – of the Garda Síochána as at 8 May 2003 is 11,783. This represents an increase of 815, or 7.4%, since 31 December 1997. The deployment of Garda personnel in individual Garda stations throughout the country is a matter for local management. As the House will be aware, the Cabinet has authorised the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to make the greatest possible use of the existing capacity of the Garda training college in Templemore over the next two years to bring the strength of the force to 12,200, its current authorised maximum strength. This will represent an all-time record level of strength.
A new Garda recruitment competition is under way. It is planned that 660 Garda trainees will be taken into the Garda college during 2003. The Commissioner has projected, based on the anticipated rate of retirement, that this level of recruitment will result in the maximum authorised strength of 12,200 being achieved during 2004. The Minister has already told the House that he will not be content with raising the strength of the Garda Síochána to an historic high of 12,200, and higher again as soon as budgetary circumstances permit the Government to make progress towards the target of 14,000 provided in the programme for Government for achievement by 2007. The Minister also intends to increase the number of Garda members available for front-line policing through a process of civilianisation as soon as circumstances permit.
Effective law enforcement and the maintenance of public order is not achieved simply by increasing Garda numbers. A range of solutions and innovations across the criminal justice system as a whole must be invoked as society changes and new challenges arise. In this regard, the Minister is currently formulating proposals for Garda reform, increased accountability and improved investigative powers, to provide for a significantly enhanced modern police service. The Minister looks forward to the full co-operation of the House as he continues to address those challenges.
Additional informationThe personnel strength of any Garda station can vary from time to time having regard to retirements, transfers and appointments. In those circumstances, the Minister understands from the Garda authorities that it would be a prohibitive task, certainly in the time available, to track the personnel strength of each individual station over the past five years. What is clear, however, is that the strength of the force has increased in that time by more than 800 gardaí, which has facilitated the making available of additional resources not only to many individual stations but to the greatly enhanced range of specialised national units which are based in Dublin but provide a nationwide service.
The Minister of State's reply is nonsense which is something to which we are getting accustomed. There are plenty of unmanned stations around the country which were previously manned such as the one in Stradbally, the parish in which I grew up. There are no gardaí there now. This is utter nonsense. What does an elderly person who hears someone breaking down their back door do when the nearest garda is 20 miles away?
I do not know if the Deputy heard the answer, but no Garda station has been closed since 31 December 1997.
They may not be closed, but there is no one there.
The doors are locked.
If the Deputy wishes to raise the issue of a particular Garda station which has been closed since 31 December 1997, I would be obliged if he would identify it and supply me with the information relating to it.
There are plenty of stations which are completely unmanned which were manned at some point in the past six years. What is an elderly person to do when he or she hears someone breaking in the back door when the nearest Garda station is 20 miles away? I would like Deputy Lenihan to answer that since he is supposed to be a Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. This is not just happening in urban areas, it is also happening in rural Ireland today. The rise in crime levels does not just affect urban centres, it also affects rural areas. I want the Minister of State to answer the question.
I answered the question Deputy Deasy tabled in Dáil Éireann this afternoon relating to the number of Garda stations nationwide—
I am asking a supplementary question.
—which have closed or have had a reduced complement of gardaí since 1997.
The answer is "none".
Deputy Deasy appears to have proceeded to an entirely different point of departure, namely the number of gardaí accessible in the State since 1997 with particular reference to this year. If the Deputy wishes to have that question answered, there are avenues through which he can do it. It is a far more subjective question. I answered the question the Deputy tabled.
The Minister of State did not answer anything.
The question was very clear. It asked the number of gardaí lost in each location affected and I made it clear to Deputy Deasy that it would be an extraordinary exercise for us to furnish that information.
Do you have any idea of the sense of insecurity that arises in a community when gardaí leave?
Of course I appreciate—
Members should address their remarks through the Chair rather than directly to each other.
Is the Minister of State aware of the sense of insecurity created in a community when gardaí leave? The Garda has left many communities in the past six years. There are no gardaí there, particularly at night. I am asking the Minister of State what people should do. Are communities supposed to fend for themselves? The Minister of State does not have an answer.
The strength of the Garda is at an historic high in the State. I made clear the position in regard to station complements and locations which were the issues raised by Deputy Deasy in his question this afternoon. Of course, I share the concern expressed by the Deputy which any law abiding citizen would have regarding their personal security and the security of their property. However, I do not accept that gardaí are not available to the public. That, I take it, is the burden of the Deputy's suggestion at this stage.
Crime has become so bad in urban areas that gardaí have been taken from rural areas and the Government has left communities unpoliced. Communities and, in particular, the elderly have been left to fend for themselves.
