Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for coming before the committee. It is very important that gardaí be allowed to do their job and that we see a Garda presence on the streets, motorways, back roads, etc. It is great that the Garda College Templemore has been reopened. It means that we will have extra gardaí coming out every year. I was delighted when I heard that there would be an extra 4,000 civilian staff in An Garda Síochána by 2021. I was led to believe that when this happened, between 1,500 and 2,000 trained gardaí would be back on the beat or on motorways. Will the Minister confirm how many trained gardaí will be released to carry out garda jobs when the target of 4,000 civilian staff is reached? How many civilians work for An Garda Síochána? What qualifications do they need to apply for a job with An Garda Síochána? What support and training do they receive?

These civilians are coming in to do what trained gardaí do. I am all for that because if we can release this number of gardaí, it would help alleviate the problems on the streets.

I come from Dundalk where there is a very good Garda station, but over recent years, someone who has been physically or sexually assaulted has to join a queue in the station. The people in the queue might be dealing with motor tax or passports. The people who have been assaulted should get some special treatment. It is not fair that they must wait to report the crime. What plans does the Minister have for that?

The station in Dundalk has done well in getting new recruits but the station building needs work. I have said this before to the Minister. It is close to the M1 but the traffic coming off it is unattended. It has no space to expand. There is another Garda station a few miles away off the M1 called Dromad. Are there any plans to invest money in Dromad? It is so congested it impossible for people to park in the area. The extra resources in the Garda station have helped combat crime. It is a Border county. Could the Minister come to Dundalk over the next few weeks? Is it the case that in most Garda stations there is only one garda and a queue of people? In the 21st century we have to move forward. I am delighted that we are getting more civilians in to do the administrative work which will release trained gardaí.