Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 January 2016
500. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which she will further augment Garda Síochána strength throughout County Kildare, with particular reference to those areas which may have experienced increased levels of criminal activity over the past year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1266/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions, and I as Minister have no direct role in the matter. The allocation of Gardaí is continually monitored and reviewed so as to ensure optimal use is made of Garda human resources. As with all other Divisions, the deployment of members of An Garda Síochána and of the Garda Reserve in the Kildare Division is considered as part of a distribution model that takes into account all relevant factors including crime trends, demographics, and security assessments relating to the Division in question.
There are currently 313 members of An Garda Síochána assigned to the Kildare Division, supported by 31 members of the Garda Reserve and 29 full-time equivalent (FTE) civilian staff. When appropriate, the work of local Gardaí is supported by a number of Garda national units such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI), the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation (GBFI), and the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB).
This Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the capacity to provide effective and visible policing throughout the country. A crucial element of the Government's strategy is ensuring ongoing seamless recruitment to renew An Garda Síochána. With this in mind Budget 2016 made provision for the recruitment of 600 new Gardaí this year bringing to 1,150 the number of new Gardaí who will have been recruited since the reopening of the Garda College in Templemore in September 2014. So far 295 of these new recruits have been fully attested and are undertaking Garda duties in communities nationwide. I am assured by Garda management that the needs of all Garda Divisions are fully considered when determining the allocation of newly attested Gardaí and in this context 15 Probationer Gardaí have been assigned to the Kildare Division.
As Minister for Justice and Equality, I share the Deputy's concern over the incidents of crime in both rural and urban areas. In relation to emerging crime trends, Operation Thor, which was launched by the Garda Commissioner last year, is a multi-stranded national operation which builds on previous and current Garda operations to tackle crime, particularly burglaries the number of which, as we know, increase with the advent of the long winter nights, in both urban and rural communities nationwide. Operation Thor is made possible by the increased investment in policing by this Government, including an allocation of €5 million to specifically support this new Operation. It entails a broad range of activities to tackle burglars, organised crime gangs and prolific offenders as well as working with communities to prevent crime. These activities include: additional high-visibility patrols in identified burglary hot-spots; increased use of checkpoints to tackle the criminal gangs using the national road network; the use of new high powered vehicles by the armed Regional Response Units; efforts to disrupt the stolen goods market; programmes to help reduce re-offending by prolific offenders; a high-profile national crime prevention awareness campaign; and targeted crime prevention advice for local communities and enhanced supports for victims. I am confident that this comprehensive operation by An Garda Síochána, supported by Government investment in Garda resources and personnel, will disrupt the activities of burglars, organised crime gangs and prolific offenders and will improve the safety of all our communities across the country.
