Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman for his indulgence. I welcome Commissioner Harris and the other staff members. I am sure the delegates have heard a lot today about the new reform plan. I wish to raise a couple of issues.

I have grave concern about the merging of Waterford Garda division with the Carlow and Kilkenny division. My main concerns are about Waterford being the only city in the country to be left without a divisional headquarters under the planned reforms. From what I can see, Galway, Limerick, Cork and Dublin are receiving different treatment. Waterford Garda station is among the five busiest in the country. Under Project 2040, the population of Waterford is expected to grow by 30,000 in the next 20 years. Why was there no meaningful consultation with the various bodies before the plan was announced? Why was there no meaningful consultation with the joint policing committees, the front-line staff and the Garda associations across the country before the reforms were announced? With the amalgamation of the Waterford and Carlow and Kilkenny divisions, it is proposed to reduce the number of divisions from six to four.

There was a large spate of burglaries in rural Waterford last week. Seven houses were affected. I dealt with a case in which the home of an 86 year old man had been broken into. I highlight the absolute respect and empathy shown to the gentleman by An Garda Síochána, including the garda who visited the crime scene. The individual in question was there for hours and so respectful and helpful. I fear that, with the dilution of services, rural parts of Waterford will be affected. We have three great divisions - Dungarvan, Tramore and Waterford - under the auspices of the chief superintendent. When the Commissioner is considering where the headquarters should be located, I would like him to really consider the fact that Waterford has the fifth busiest divisional headquarters in the country.