Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 May 2018
32. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of sergeants and inspectors, respectively, in County Wexford on 21 April 2018; the district to which each was posted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22372/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of sergeants and inspectors in County Wexford on 21 April 2018, the district to which each officer was posted and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The distribution of Garda personnel is exclusively the statutory responsibility of the Garda Commissioner. Notwithstanding the acting Commissioner's responsibility, I have provided for the record, in tabular form, the detailed information requested by the Deputy.
I am informed by the acting Commissioner that, as of 30 April 2018, the most recent date for which figures are readily available, the strength of the Wexford division was 294, of whom 38 are sergeants and six are inspectors. There are also 17 Garda reservists and 32 civilians attached to the division. 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 unit, the Garda national economic crime bureau and the Garda national drugs and organised crime bureau.
As I have stated in the House previously, 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 to citizens and deter crime. To make this a reality for all, the Government has in place a plan for an overall Garda strength of 21,000 personnel by 2021, including 15,000 Garda members. Real and 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.
Funding is in place to ensure that the 2021 vision of an overall workforce of 21,000 remains very much on track. This year, a further 800 new Garda recruits will enter the Garda College - 400 have already done so. In total, 800 Garda trainees are scheduled to attest during the year. The Deputy will be aware of the current recruitment campaign which was recently inaugurated by An Garda Síochána. I am keen that every part of the country, including the south-east region, will benefit from increased Garda numbers.
|
WEXFORD DIVISION 30 APRIL 2018 |
|||
|
DISTRICT |
STATION |
SG |
IN |
|
ENNISCORTHY |
BUNCLODY |
2 |
0 |
|
COURTOWN HARBOUR |
1 |
0 |
|
|
ENNISCORTHY |
6 |
2 |
|
|
GOREY |
6 |
1 |
|
|
OYLEGATE |
1 |
0 |
|
|
TOTAL |
16 |
3 |
|
|
NEW ROSS |
NEW ROSS |
7 |
1 |
|
TOTAL |
7 |
1 |
|
|
WEXFORD |
CASTLEBRIDGE |
1 |
0 |
|
ROSSLARE HARBOUR |
1 |
0 |
|
|
WEXFORD |
13 |
2 |
|
|
TOTAL |
15 |
2 |
|
|
WEXFORD |
Total |
38 |
6 |
I thank the Minister. I raised the issue of under-resourcing in the context of sergeants and inspectors in County Wexford in order to convince the Government of the need to provide additional resources. I commend sergeants, inspectors and superintendents who are doing their duty across the country, including those officers in County Wexford who are working with insufficient resources.
Garda representative organisations have consistently pointed out that a lack of resources is hampering their ability to tackle criminal gangs that are targeting rural areas. Fianna Fáil secured a commitment in the confidence and supply agreement to bring Garda numbers up to at least 15,000. Wexford Garda stations need more sergeants and inspectors to help bolster their positive policing abilities. The problem is particularly acute in north Wexford, where Gorey district was downgraded during the term of office of the previous Government. It lost its superintendent and now has only one covering Enniscorthy and Gorey. An extra 50,000 people visit Gorey during the summer period. This means that Garda resources are being spread thinly across the area and that is having a serious impact.
On Garda strength in the Wexford division, the Deputy will be aware that there are now more gardaí than has been the case since before 2009. I am sure he is very keen that the numbers continue to increase. He mentioned Gorey Garda station. I recently had the opportunity to visit it and acknowledged the ongoing very positive and constructive work in which gardaí in the Gorey region are engaged. Next week, I will visit Wexford town and will have the opportunity to see the state-of-the-art Garda station there at first hand. I recently performed the official opening of the state-of-the-art courthouse, which is a multi-million euro development in Wexford town.
I acknowledge what Deputy Browne said in respect of vacancies in the supervisory ranks of sergeant and inspector. While acknowledging that these are issue for the Garda Commissioner, I understand that competition for promotion to the ranks of sergeant and inspector are currently in train and that should be of assistance.
Gardaí in Gorey recently reacted very quickly and arrested two men in a field near the town. When the Minister visited Gorey Garda station he probably noticed that the superintendent had to travel from Enniscorthy because that is where he is based. It is a very large area, encompassing Bunclody in the west of Enniscorthy to Blackwater, south to New Ross and all the way up to the border with Wicklow.
If the superintendent is not reinstated, the supervisory roles need to be expanded, particularly in the Gorey area. A major issue in Wexford is the fact that the drugs unit was effectively disbanded because of a lack of resources. That has become a significant problem. Drugs are being brought in through Rosslare Europort. In fairness, gardaí and customs officers are doing the best they can, but supervisory roles are hampering Garda procedures in County Wexford and it is something that needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.
It is important that we ensure members of the Garda are doing the job for which they are trained, that is, both availability and visibility. I acknowledge the point Deputy Browne raised in respect of the supervisory ranks. I am advised by the acting Garda Commissioner that competitions for the positions of sergeant and inspector are currently in train. In that regard the requirements of each Garda division, including that of Wexford, will be considered by the acting Garda Commissioner when assigning the successful candidates from the competitions. I assure the Deputy that my priority is to ensure that An Garda Síochána is adequately resourced. Budget 2018 has provided for the recruitment of 800 more gardaí this year, many of whom will be fully trained, ambitious, energetic and stationed to posts in the Wexford region.
The Minister said his priority is to make sure the Garda is adequately resourced. Gorey was downgraded, which was madness as it is one of the fastest growing regions in the country.
The Minister also said the Minister for Justice and Equality should not interfere with the Commissioner but if the Commissioner is not responsible to the Minister who in God's name is he or she accountable to? Who is carrying out the disciplinary investigation into those investigations? Somebody is doing it but the Garda Síochána will not tell us. Could the Minister find out for us? It has been more than four years yet nobody has been arrested in connection with heroin. At least one person has died since because of heroin. Local gardaí were involved and investigations were carried out yet nothing has been done about them. How can no one be arrested for four years? Who is doing the investigation now into the disciplinary side of it?
I assure Deputy Wallace, as I assured Deputy Browne, that every consideration will be given by the Commissioner to areas where specific needs are highlighted. I am happy to convey to the acting Garda Commissioner the views of Deputy Browne. The competitions for promotion in respect of inspectors and sergeants are in the course of completion. I expect that in the coming months consideration will be given by the acting Garda Commissioner to ensuring that if there are vacant posts that have been outstanding for some time, arrangements will be made to fill them at the earliest opportunity. I want to see gardaí on the streets and I want to see sergeants in a position to carry out their duties and to help and assist with probationer gardaí who are coming out from the Garda College in Templemore in a very positive stream. I am sure they will be stationed to some Garda stations in Wexford and will need the assistance, goodwill and mentoring of the station sergeants in the area.
