Seanad Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 19 Dec 1995

Vol. 145 No. 16

Adjournment Matter. - Permanent Garda Numbers.

Mr. Farrelly

I thank the Minister for coming to the House to take this matter. This issue arose at Meath County Council level. Many people in Bettystown and Laytown were annoyed earlier this year because of cars being vandalised and a number of other incidents. Manpower at Laytown Garda Station has remained constant for many years at one sergeant and three gardaí. Would it be possible for extra gardaí to be assigned to the station during the busy tourist season? This is not too much to request. The Assistant Garda Commissioner has said the force is happy with the position as it is but local people do not share this view, given that there were a large number of people in this seaside resort during this year's fine hot summer.

I ask that extra gardaí be made available between June and September when people arrive at the coast in County Meath. There was a greater number of gardaí in the station in Laytown in the past than there is today, regardless of what the Assistant Commissioner said. The Garda Commissioner should ensure a greater Garda presence during the year, when extra people visit the area, to prevent what happened in Laytown this summer.

I ask for an opportunity to discuss the scaremongering — in this and the other House — on law and order. Comments were made here today which suggested that crime only started since 15 December 1994. We all know that is untrue. I would like an opportunity to discuss crime and I know Senators made many comments in this regard which will help the Minister to deal with the situation.

There were fewer gardaí in the Meath Louth division for many years as a result of the Border. That has changed and I hope what happened yesterday will not affect it. We have fewer gardaí per head of population than many other parts of the country. Perhaps the Minister could ask the commissioner to ensure a greater Garda presence in certain areas, such as the coastal areas in County Meath, when greater numbers visit. We do not want people to take the law into their own hands as they did earlier this year. There is no need for permanent gardaí on a full-time basis. I ask the Minister to consider this issue.

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

I thank the Senator for raising this matter which is important to his area. The Garda authorities are responsible for the detailed allocation of Garda personnel and resources to different areas. There is a perception that I allocate the gardaí to different areas each morning.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the coastal area of County Meath is policed by the gardaí attached to Laytown Garda station which covers Bettystown, Mornington, Donacarney, Julianstown and Gormanston. The current strength of Laytown station is one sergeant and three gardaí and the station is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday to Saturday and from 12 noon to 1 p.m. on Sundays. A direct communication link at Laytown station becomes operational when the station is unmanned which allows callers to contact the gardaí direct at the district headquarters at Drogheda.

There is a patrol car allocated to Laytown station and it is utilised in patrolling the sub-district, including the coastal area referred to by the Senator. Garda coverage in the area is augmented by a district patrol car from Drogheda station. In addition, the traffic corps and detective branch based at Drogheda also patrol the area. At present, there are 176 gardaí of all ranks stationed in County Meath in the following stations: Kells 31, Navan 46 and Trim 22.

Crime statistics for the Laytown area over the past three years show that there were 228 committed in 1993; 208 in 1994; the trend for 1995 suggests that the levels will be similar to 1993. However, the rate of detection in the present year has increased significantly over that achieved in 1994.

Senator Farrelly suggested — I have heard this before in other areas of high tourist activity — that at certain times of the year, such as June to September, extra gardaí should be allocated to particular areas because of the growth in population because of tourism. As Minister for Justice, I am responsible for the delivery of an efficient and effective police service to the community. The deployment of resources in the Garda Síochána and the operation and control of the force, however, remain the responsibilities of the Garda Commissioner. The Garda authorities have informed me that when manpower next becomes available the allocation of manpower to Drogheda district will be fully considered in conjunction with the other districts throughout the Louth-Meath division.

The Garda authorities have assured me that local Garda management continually review the policing arrangements in place for Laytown sub-district with a view to ensuring that optimum use is made of available resources. I announced recently the regionalisation of the gardaí which will add to the effectiveness of policing between one district or another within these new regions. Louth-Meath belongs to the eastern region. I hope that regionalisation will be used as a method by senior gardaí in that area to look at the changes in population and redeploy gardaí in the regions affected. If tourists increase in one area, the chances are that another area will be quiet in the summer but full of activity in the winter. It should give more flexibility to allow an interchange of personnel within a region.

This regionalisation programme which has been put in place will make a change in the coastal regions which Senator Farrelly mentioned. I recommend that when the programme is in place early in the New Year he should suggest to the superintendent in his locality that one way of modifying manpower during the summer months is to take up the increases in the coastal region. I thank the Senator for raising this issue.

The Seanad adjourned at 9.20 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 20 December 1995.