Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Commissioner and his colleagues for the presentation. Much of what is in the new model for policing is a reflection of the recommendations of the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. I see that dotted throughout. I refer particularly to the new divisional boundaries. A lot of that is set out in recommendations Nos. 21 to 26 and the report's fifth principle. I see a lot of this throughout the new model.

One of the issues that jumps out immediately concerns the additional resources that will be needed to deliver this. This particularly applies to something that most colleagues deal with in their local areas: a particular garda in each division dealing with people looking for immigration stamps and so on. All of that will now be moved elsewhere, which will free up resources within An Garda Síochána. If that work is moved to other agencies, have they been allocated additional resources to deal with it? The witnesses say that work accounting for up to 30% of Garda time has now been shifted to other agencies. Some of those agencies fall under the auspices of our health service. The Courts Service will probably have to increase its level of activity to do what Garda used to do. Are additional resources available? Has the Commissioner been assured that other agencies will be able to deliver?

The other issues of concern related to what will happen in regard to the new divisions. There is some concern out there. I refer to Sligo-Leitrim and Donegal coming together as one large area and the level of resources allocated to it. I understand that the envisaged outcome is approximately 800 to 900 gardaí in each of the 19 divisions.