Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 April 2018
42. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new recruits assigned to each Garda station in north County Cork in each of the years 2014 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16553/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraWill the Minister also make a statement on the wider policing situation in north Cork?
The distribution of Garda personnel, including the allocation of newly attested gardaí, is exclusively the statutory responsibility of the Garda Commissioner. Notwithstanding that responsibility, I have provided in tabular form the detailed information requested by the Deputy.
I am informed by the acting Garda Commissioner that, as of 28 February, the latest date for which figures are available, the strength of the Cork north division was 326. When appropriate, the work of local gardaí is supported by a number of Garda national units such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the armed support units, the National Economic Crime Bureau and the National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.
The Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance for citizens and deter crime. To make this a reality for all, the Government has in place a plan for an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021, including 15,000 members of An Garda Síochána. Real, tangible progress has been made towards this goal. Garda numbers, taking account of projected retirements, increased to 13,551 at the end of 2017, a net increase of over 600 since the end of 2016.
The Deputy will be aware that in 2010 a previous Government closed the Garda College in Templemore and imposed a moratorium. These measures had a negative impact on Garda numbers across all divisions and the legacy of these decisions continues to have consequences for policing. When it had brought about an early exit from the bailout and stabilised the public finances, the then Government reopened the college in September 2014. Just under 1,800 recruits have since attested as members of An Garda Síochána and are performing mainstream duties nationwide, 20 of whom have been assigned to the Cork north division.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House
I am pleased that funding is in place to maintain this high level of investment in the Garda workforce. This year a further 800 new recruits will enter the Garda College. In total, 800 Garda trainees are scheduled to attest during the year, 200 of whom attested last month. Furthermore, Garda numbers, taking account of projected retirements, are on track to reach 14,000 by the end of 2018.
This focus on investment in personnel is critical. We are rebuilding the organisation and providing the acting Commissioner with the resources needed to deploy increasing numbers of gardaí. Undoubtedly, the ongoing recruitment process will support all Garda activities, enhance visibility within communities and enable the acting Commissioner to provide additional resources across every Garda division, including the Cork north division, as new Garda recruits continue to come on stream.
Probationer Garda Allocations 2015 – 2018*
|
DIVISION |
STATION |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
TOTAL |
|
CORK NORTH |
MALLOW |
0 |
5 |
5 |
0 |
10 |
|
MIDLETON |
0 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
5 |
|
|
FERMOY |
0 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
5 |
|
|
TOTAL |
0 |
5 |
15 |
0 |
20 |
*To date in 2018
I asked the Minister in good faith about the number of gardaí in north Cork, but he added a political dimension to it with mention of the bailout and other issues. I do not want to go down that route but to ask a sincere question of the Minister. There were a number of reconfigurations of the Garda division covering the Kanturk, Mallow and Macroom areas from 2012 to 2014. A commitment was given at the time that the position would be reviewed and that numbers would be increased over time. The issue is that Kanturk Garda station which was the mainstay for the Duhallow region was closed and part of the staff were transferred to Macroom and Mallow. Some of the Kanturk area to within a mile or two of Kanturk Garda station is now being covered from Macroom. While the gardaí operating from there are very fine and doing a great job with limited resources, I asked the Minister how many new recruits were deployed to north Cork. If he wants to go down the political route, we can do so, but I am asking him in good faith to outline the plans for the Garda division and whether it is likely Kanturk Garda barracks will be reopened on a full-time basis following what happened between 2012 and 2014.
I do not have the information to hand on Kanturk Garda station, but I will be happy to provide it for the Deputy directly in the next few days. According to the information I have on Garda numbers from December 2009 to this year for the Cork north division, that division now has its highest number of gardaí since 2008, at a total of 326 as of February. The number was 324 in 2017, 316 in 2016, 298 in 2015, 297 in 2014 and so on. I will provide the table for the Deputy. I am pleased that funding is in place to maintain a high level of investment in the Garda workforce. This year 800 further Garda recruits will enter the Garda College. Some of them will be allocated to stations in the north Cork region.
Kanturk Garda station is only open at certain times. It used to be a mainstay, with a superintendent based in it. Part of the area is being covered from Mallow, while another is covered from Macroom. Will the Minister commit to considering the possibility of having the station reopened, as it is in the centre of the Duhallow region, ensuring a 24/7 Garda presence in the area?
I will be happy to provide the local information for the Deputy once I receive it from the Garda. I do not decide the opening hours of Garda stations, but I agree with the Deputy on investment. The focus on investment in personnel is critical. We are building the organisation and providing the acting Commissioner with the resources needed to deploy increasing numbers of gardaí. Undoubtedly, the ongoing recruitment process will support all Garda activities, enhance visibility within communities and enable the acting Commissioner to provide additional resources across every Garda division, including north Cork, as Garda recruits continue to come on stream. On the specific information being sought by the Deputy, I will drop him a note in the next few days.
I will make a suggestion to the House in view of the time constraints. As two Deputies have been waiting a considerable time, I ask that they forfeit the 30 seconds they have to introduce their questions. I will then allow them to ask one supplementary question each.
