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Garda Deployment

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 April 2018

Tuesday, 17 April 2018

Ceisteanna (45)

Pat Casey

Ceist:

45. Deputy Pat Casey asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new Garda recruits assigned to each Garda station in County Wicklow in each of the years 2014 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16578/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí ó Béal (7 píosaí cainte)

I thank Deputy Casey for his question. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that as of 28 February 2018, the latest date for which figures are available, the strength of the Wicklow division was 306. 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 Garda National Economic Crime Bureau and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau. I assure the House the Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to 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 Garda members.

I assure Deputy Casey the recruitment of Garda Síochána is continuing apace. Just under 1,800 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and are performing mainstream duties nationwide. Of these, 31 have been assigned to the Wicklow division. While it is an issue for the Garda Commissioner, Deputy Casey will be pleased to hear the allocation of gardaí in the Bray and Wicklow stations is on the up. I am sure that with further gardaí coming out of Templemore later this year, the acting Commissioner, in his wisdom, will look at Wicklow as he does other areas in the country.

I thank the Minister for his reply. I sincerely hope the Commissioner looks at Wicklow because Wicklow has seen a continual decline in Garda numbers since 2009. In 2009, there were 360, which reduced to 355, 339, 334, 328 and all the way down to 299 in 2017. Last year, the number of inspectors decreased from nine to five. The number in our traffic corps has reduced from 30 to 16. The number of our community gardaí has reduced from 23 to 13. The number of Garda reservists has gone from 41 down to 20. This is unfair. The Commissioner has to look at it. We are all aware of rural crime. The Minister mentioned it. My colleague has mentioned before, as I have, the importance of CCTV to detect crimes concerning those coming off the motorways from Dublin.

The last time I spoke to the Minister in the Chamber I mentioned CCTV for Arklow and I thank him for ensuring that funding has come through for Arklow. The town team is working its way through that process. I thank the Minister for that.

We have seen a continual decline in Garda numbers for nearly ten years in Wicklow and we need to address it moving forward.

I thank Deputy Casey for what he said. I assure him that plans are on track to recruit 800 Garda trainees this year and 200 are in the Garda College in Templemore. I am happy to convey the Deputy's views on the distribution of resources, as stated here in the House, to the Garda Commissioner.

That concludes-----

May I make a very brief point on an earlier question?

I wish to clarify an aspect of my reply in respect of Question No. 32 regarding my proposals to give effect to the Ombudsman's recommendations. In my reply I stated the Ombudsman's recommendations referred to applications already received from a training or industrial school located in the same grounds as one of the 12 named institutions. However, it could not be restricted to existing applicants so at a minimum it would extend the scheme to at least another eight institutions. I wish to clarify that the implementation of the Ombudsman's recommendation with regard to eligibility for the redress scheme will be considered by an interdepartmental group chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach which will be established in the coming days. The terms of reference will be agreed in consultation with the Ombudsman. I do not wish to pre-empt that process but I will keep the House updated.

Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website.
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