Seán Haughey
Ceist:
273. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will review the Garda districts in the northern division of the Dublin metropolitan region (details supplied); if opening up new Garda stations in this area has been considered; if he will increase the number of Garda personnel serving these districts in view of the volume of complaints regarding crime and anti-social behaviour in these estates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31412/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra
The Deputy will appreciate that it is the Garda Commissioner who is primarily responsible for managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána including the effective and efficient use of the resources available to An Garda Síochána. As Minister, I have no direct role in the matter.
I have asked the Garda Commissioner for the specific information requested and when it is to hand I will inform the Deputy accordingly.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A
I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 273 for answer on 11 July 2018 regarding the reviewing of Garda districts and the opening of a new Garda station in the northern division of the Dublin Metropolitan Region.
As the Deputy will recall the information that he requested could not be obtained in the time available and I would contact him again when the details were to hand. I apologise for the delay in responding, while I consulted with An Garda Síochána on the matter.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling the administration and business of An Garda Síochána. This includes responsibility for distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions as well as responsibility for formulating proposals on the opening and closing of Garda stations, taking into account crime trends and policing priorities. I, as Minister, have no direct role in this matter.
This was again emphasised in a report of the Garda Síochána Inspectorate entitled “Policing with Local Communities”, which was submitted by the Policing Authority and published in December 2018. That report also finds that responsibility for decisions on boundaries and dispersement of Garda resources – including the number, type and location of Garda stations - should rest with the Garda Commissioner, as is currently the case.
The Garda authorities have been asked for information on the issue you raised, and have informed me that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the areas referred to in the above question are located within the Coolock Garda District. This area receives ongoing attention from Gardaí assigned to that District and operating from the District Headquarters at Coolock. I am informed by the Garda authorities that they consider it to be more beneficial to develop the current accommodation at Coolock Garda Station rather than building a new station in the areas referred to.
Local Garda management is aware of issues relating to anti-social behaviour in the locality referred to and, in addition to routine patrols by mobile patrol units, Garda foot patrols and members of Community Policing units have also deployed additional personnel, particularly to specific areas identified as public disorder or anti-social behaviour hot-spots.
The Garda authorities inform my officials that the Community Policing Unit at Coolock Garda Station has ongoing engagement with various residential, commercial and business groups within the community, providing personal security and crime prevention advices at regular meetings throughout the District.
The Garda authorities further inform my officials that local Garda management monitor crime trends and initiate frequent and varied crime prevention and detection initiatives to target criminal behaviour, including any 'spikes' in specific types of criminality. Local Garda management has put in place specific initiatives targeting anti-social activities of young drivers, including intelligence-led initiatives and An Garda Síochána works closely with the local authorities to reduce opportunities for joyriding, antisocial behaviour and public disorder. Garda checkpoints to prevent and detect criminality across the Districts have resulted in the detection of road traffic offences; the recovery and seizure of firearms; the disruption of the sale and supply of drugs; and the execution of warrants.
I can assure you that this Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country. The Government has put in place a plan for an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Reserve members and 4,000 civilians. The Government is making real, tangible progress on achieving this goal and funding is in place to maintain this high level of investment in the Garda workforce and deliver on this plan.
The resources provided by Government to An Garda Síochána have also reached unprecedented levels, with an allocation for 2019 of €1.76 billion as well as significant capital investment in the Garda estate, the Garda fleet and Garda ICT. This significant current and capital investment in An Garda Síochána is in support of the Government's commitment to ensure a strong and visible police presence throughout the country, to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime.
I trust that this information is of assistance.
Questions Nos. 274 and 275 answered with Question No. 258.
