Garda Deployment (Continued)
  Garda Station Closures

Thursday, 19 October 2017

Dáil Éireann Debate
Vol. 960 No. 6
Unrevised

(Speaker Continuing)

[Deputy Charles Flanagan:  ] I am pleased to say budget 2018 will support the continuation of the high level of investment in the Garda workforce and ensure the vision of an overall workforce of 21,000 by 2021 will remain firmly on track. A further 800 new Garda recruits will enter the Garda College and an additional 500 civilians will be recruited to fill critical gaps throughout the organisation to facilitate the redeployment of gardaí from administrative and technical duties to front-line operational duties. There are plans to strengthen the Garda Reserve with new reserves expected to commence training early next year.

Notwithstanding the Commissioner's responsibility for the distribution of the gardaí, I have provided a breakdown of the detailed information requested by Deputy Darragh O'Brien in tabular form. The tables set out to the number of gardaí allocated to each Garda station in the Dublin metropolitan region as of 31 August this year, the latest date for which figures are readily available. The Garda divisions referred to show that the Garda strength of the region on that date was 3,467. There are 181 Garda reserves and 208 civilians attached to the region. Where appropriate, the work of local gardaí is supported by a number of Garda national units such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, all of which are active in the region.

Garda Strength D.M.R. North by station

Deputy Darragh O'Brien:   I thank the Minister for his comprehensive reply and look forward to going through the items per station in tabular format.

I have raised this question because I have a concern about the equitable distribution of resources. The Minister has said it is a matter for Garda management. I understand that. However, the reality is that stations such as the one in Malahide were downgraded by the previous Government. In north Dublin the number of gardaí is down by 20%. Areas in which there is not a great Garda presence do not seem to be getting an allocation of new Garda recruits and I am concerned about this. I hope there is a whole-of-government approach in so far as the Department looks at how resources are being distributed throughout Dublin. The tendency is for many of the new recruits to go to the areas which are more visible, that is, the cities. While new recruits and additional resources are needed in the centre of cities, the suburbs and outlying areas of Dublin cannot be forgotten. That is my great concern. Let us consider the figures for community policing, in particular. For example, the entire area of Balbriggan with a population of almost 50,000 has only two community gardaí. For the whole of the Malahide district, the number of community gardaí is down from six in 2014 to zero. There has also been a decrease in Swords and there are no community gardaí in the Lusk area. These are examples of where it is obvious that we need to fill the gaps. Community policing has been decimated, but it is crucial for good policing in any area, especially my area of Dublin Fingal.

Deputy Charles Flanagan:   I have made the figures available to the Deputy. They include areas of importance to the Deputy, including Balbriggan, Lusk, Skerries, Ballymun, Dublin Airport, Santry, Coolock, Malahide, Swords, Raheny, Clontarf and Howth. I am happy to be able to make the information available immediately. It is important in the context of policing for reference to be made at all times to the importance of community policing. I share the Deputy’s concern in that regard. He made a point about recruitment, with specific reference to Garda recruitment. The numbers I have given indicate a doubling of the Garda Reserve in the coming period. Moreover, I advise the Deputy that there are in the region of 2,000 civilians undertaking administrative and technical duties within An Garda Síochána. My target is to have 4,000 civilians which would effectively double the current figure. That represents a medium-term target of 20% for the level of civilian participation by 2021. Currently, the figure is 14%. Therefore, this will bring the force more into line with international norms and ensure trained gardaí will not be engaged in administrative work or technical duties that could be done by suitably qualified civilian staff. I will be happy to keep the Deputy informed of the detail, although I know that he will keep me under observation as far as these figures are concerned.

Deputy Darragh O'Brien:   I very much appreciate the fact that the Minister has given me the figures. I wish to set out some examples. Let us consider the Malahide district which includes the Garda stations in Malahide, Portmarnock and Kinsealy. The population is 27,000 as per the last census. There are no community gardaí in the district. The Swords Garda district covers the size of a city, an area larger than Limerick. As per the last census, the population was a little less than 50,000 and it had ten community gardaí. Balbriggan is larger than most regional towns and larger than some cities. It has a population of a little less than 40,000 and has two community gardaí. In Lusk the number is zero. In Rush the number is also zero because the Garda station has been closed. the number is also zero in Skerries. I am highlighting this issue because Garda senior management needs to look at these areas where it is obvious that numbers are down, in particular the numbers of community gardaí. I welcome the Minister's comments to the effect that he supports the concept of community policing, but it has been decimated in large swathes of the country, including my constituency of Dublin Fingal. I would be happy to work with the Minister and Garda management to ensure it is brought back to the fore and made a priority in areas throughout the country.

Deputy Charles Flanagan:   I have been informed by the acting Commissioner that since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, close to 1,400 recruits have been attested as members of An Garda Síochána and assigned to mainstream duties nationwide, 631 of whom have been assigned to the Dublin metropolitan region. I have given the Deputy the tables. In addition, a further 200 trainee gardaí are scheduled to be attested later this year, which will see Garda numbers, taking account of projected retirements, increase to the 13,500 mark by the end of the year, representing an increase of 500 since 2016. I am keen to ensure the points raised by the Deputy will be considered in respect of the assignment of gardaí in the Dublin region. We must have regard to the serious challenges An Garda Síochána faces on a daily basis in the Dublin metropolitan area, with particular reference to the tackling of organised crime. I am keen to acknowledge the success of the continuing Garda operation in response to gang-related crime, Operation Hybrid, and the need to ensure we continue to facilitate the Garda in every way we can to ensure the provision of adequate and proper resources. The results of the additional resourcing provided can be seen on a day to day basis in the Deputy's constituency.

Garda Station Closures

 7. Deputy Marc MacSharry   asked the Minister for Justice and Equality   when Stepaside Garda station will reopen; and if he will make a statement on the matter.  [44071/17]

Deputy Marc MacSharry:   When will Stepaside Garda station be reopened? It follows a decision that caused much public controversy. Let us contrast this decision with the tangible lack of action in the advancement of work on a new regional Garda headquarters in Sligo where there is no running water and no shower facilities in the Garda station. The cells have been condemned to the extent that members of the Garda who arrest individuals must transport them 15 miles to the station in Ballymote.

Deputy Charles Flanagan:   The Deputy will be aware that refurbishment of Garda accommodation is progressed by the Garda authorities in close co-operation with the Office of Public Works which has responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.

As the Deputy will be aware, A Programme for a Partnership Government commits to a pilot scheme to reopen six Garda stations, urban and rural, to determine possible positive impacts that such openings will have on criminal activity, with special emphasis on burglaries, theft and public order offences.

I recently published the second interim report of the Garda Commissioner which recommended that the former Stepaside Garda station in Dublin be reopened on a pilot basis. It indicated that, subject to further analysis, the Commissioner was likely to recommend in the final report the inclusion of the former stations at Leighlinbridge, County Carlow and Donard, County Wicklow in the pilot scheme. If a second station is to be reopened in Dublin, the report indicates that the Commissioner is likely, subject to further analysis, to recommend that the former station at Rush, County Dublin be included in what will be a pilot scheme.

I am informed that An Garda Síochána is liaising with the Office of Public Works on the proposed reopening of the former Garda station at Stepaside.