Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the delegates for attending. I do not have that many questions in that I agree strongly with the gist of the presentations. Certainly, I support the emphasis on community policing and hope the new Garda authorities will advocate it as being at the heart of policing. My experience as a public representative, a councillor for ten years and then as a Deputy is that the community garda is at the heart of the interaction between the community and An Garda Síochána. Luckily, my area did not suffer as great a loss in the provision of community gardaí. The role was maintained throughout the cutbacks. It is the most effective tool the Garda has to deal with crime in a way that prevents its escalation to more serious levels. One thing that was mentioned by Mr. Connolly and which is a very valid point is that if a structure is not in place which focuses on a career path in community policing, it is at the heart of why it encounters problems. What I have seen over ten or 15 years is that a lot of young gardaí come into the role, perform it for a period of time, seem to really like it but, inevitably, move on. They move up or out of the role, which leaves the existing structure of community gardaí, as distinct from what was advocated in the report, as an ineffective form of community policing, notwithstanding its positive aspects. That is because it is really only an engagement with the community at one level. A part of it I have experienced through the joint policing committee in my local authority area shows, however, that there is a much better path that involves interaction with Garda management at all levels, including at the higher levels way up the line. I welcome the proposals the delegates have made. They are exactly where we should be going. In my experience in Tallaght, Rathfarnham and elsewhere Garda management has worked on the community policing model in South Dublin County Council, which is where it can be really effective. I am interested in hearing the delegates' views on my point about promotions and whether it is at the heart of the problem.