Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 July 2004
9 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the membership of the Garda at the latest date for which figures are available; if he has received Cabinet approval for the recruitment of 2,000 additional gardaí; the current annual capacity of the Garda Training College at Templemore; if he has plans to extend the college or otherwise increase training capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20689/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by the Garda authorities responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of the Garda Síochána, all ranks, as of 5 July 2004 was 12,072. In April, 2000, the Government agreed, inter alia, to a system of delegated authority under which recruitment is carried out to maintain the strength of the force at an agreed level. Recruitment was carried out during 2003 with a view to bringing the strength of the force to 12,200 by 31 December 2004.
The programme for Government states that the Government would complete the previous programme of expansion of the Garda Síochána which aimed at a strength of 12,000, which we have now exceeded, and then increase the strength by a further 2,000. This commitment remains. The strength of the Garda Síochána will have increased to 12,200 by the end of this year and it will not be possible to increase numbers beyond this level unless we relax the public service embargo agreed by the Government in view of budgetary circumstances in autumn 2002. There is a very strong case for doing that now.
Regarding the Templemore facility, I am advised that the Garda college has accommodation on a weekly basis of 400 single rooms. These are utilised on a weekly basis to cater for student and course accommodation. The student Garda "living out" programme that has been developed to cater for increased numbers of Garda trainees enables students to be accommodated off campus but within the environs of Templemore and can accommodate a further 300 students per week. This maximum capacity was utilised to the full in 2003.
When we decide to bring the Garda strength up from 12,200 to 14,000, a figure to which we are committed, we will make the appropriate adjustments to the facilities in Templemore. Some temporary inservice training off campus may be required and an extension of the dining and catering facilities at the college will certainly be required. I am assured that can be done quickly.
The Minister gives the figure of current Garda recruits as 12,072. Will he not admit that this is a disastrous result in terms of the policy and commitment of the Government? In April 2002, before this Government came into office, it intended to increase the numbers——
The Deputy should confine himself to a brief question. There are two other Deputies offering and I want to facilitate them. We have only three minutes remaining.
In two and a half years the Minister has increased Garda numbers by 72.
Again I request the Deputy to submit a question. There are two Deputies offering and Deputy Cuffe has been sitting here all afternoon. We must adjourn at 4.45 p.m. and the Chair has no choice in that matter.
The Minister just gave his answer and I have my question. I am not getting a chance to ask it.
I will allow a brief question.
Will the Minister agree that there is no way in which he can reach the modest target of 12,200 Garda members by the end of the year and that there is not a hope in hell of getting the 2,000 extra gardaí within the next 12 or 18 months that this Government has to run?
There seem to be two issues. There is a public service embargo and the issue of the accommodation in Templemore. Would the Minister consider integrating part of the Garda training programme in some other third level institution so as to give Garda recruits exposure to other students of their own age and also to provide some links into other third level institutions, which seems to be the direction in which other police forces are moving? Could we not replicate that in Ireland?
Will the Minister accept that the greatest failure of this Government has been its failure to comply with its promise to provide the 2,000 extra gardaí and that it has not a hope in hell, half way through its term of office, of achieving that? Templemore college is bursting at the seams. Would the Minister look beyond Templemore and agree that other facilities must be made available if we are to have any hope of increasing Garda numbers, which all agree must be done?
I am glad everyone agrees on that, because the Opposition parties did not commit themselves to that proposition before the last election. I am glad they now agree with Government policy.
I agree with Government policy which the Minister has not implemented.
Allow the Minister without interruption, please.
The Minister should not mistake thought for action.
They do not want to hear the answer now. I am proud that I have increased the strength of the Garda Síochána in the last two years from 11,800 to over 12,000.
Big deal. It is an increase of 200. The Minister promised 2,000 new recruits.
I am committed, as is the Government, to increasing Garda numbers to 14,000 over the lifetime of this Government. I believe the Deputies opposite will be very frustrated when this particular bone is taken out of their mouths.
We will be amazed rather than frustrated.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
