Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

Fáiltím roimh dhíospóireacht ar bith mar gheall ar an Gharda Síochána, agus go mórmhór roimh an athbhreithniú atá i gceist ag an mBille seo. Is beag is fiúé, faraor, gan acmhainní. Caithfimid acmhainní a phlé agus muid ag caint ar athbhreithniú ar bith.

Tá mé tar éis teacht ón gCoiste Oideachais agus Eolaíochta, áit a bhfuil an Teachta Hoctor chomh maith. Bhíomar ag plé go leor ceisteanna ansin, agus bhain ceann amháin acu le mo cheantar i mBaile Átha Cliath thuaidh, is é sin, an méadú mór i líon na ndaoine ina gcónaí san áit. Tá an méadú sin ag cur isteach go mór ar go leor acmhainní, mar shampla, ar chúrsaí scolaíochta. Níl spás sna scoileanna do na daoine atá ag iarraidh scolaíocht a fháil san áit. Ciallaíonn sé sin go bhfuil brú an-mhór, ní amháin ar na scoileanna, ach ar na teaghlaigh atá ag brath ar scoileanna atá breis is 20 míle ón mbaile.

Anuas air sin, an tseachtain seo, agus muid ag caint ar chúrsaí a bhaineann leis an Gharda Síochána, níl aon dabht ach go bhfuil an brú céanna orthu, go mórmhór sa dáilcheantar, agus baineann sé le go leor dáilcheantar eile chomh maith. Nuair atá méadú mór ag teacht ar líon na ndaoine atá ina gcónaí in áit, caithfimid a admháil go bhfuil gá le méadú mór i líon na ngardaí ag feidhmiú nó ar dualgas san áit. Faraor, tá an líon céanna gardaí— nó níos lú in áiteanna — ag feidhmiú anois i roinnt stáisiún Garda, agus i mo cheantar féin, i mBaile Brigín, tá níos lú nó an líon céanna. Níl méadú againn ó na 1980í. Ag an am céanna, cé go bhfuil níos mó ná an baile i gceist maidir le dualgais an stáisiúin, tá Baile Brigín féin tar éis méadúó na 1980í. Go luath sna 1980í, bhí timpeall 3,000 duine ann. Táimid ag súil anois, leis an bplean forbartha atá ann, le tuairim is 30,000. Is méadú mór é sin. Má tá deich n-oiread níos mó daoine ann, is cinnte go bhfuil méadú mór ag teastáil i méid an Gharda Síochána freisin, ach níl sé sin ag titim amach. I ndáiríre, cad is fiú an díospóireacht seo muna bhfuil na hacmhainní ag teacht ina diaidh? Tá mé buartha nach bhfuil na hacmhainní ann chun é sin a dhéanamh.

The Government is being reckless in expecting the Garda Síochána, at a strength that is far lower than the proportionate rise in population would require, to operate effectively without commensurate additional resources. It is not just taking a risk but is creating the ingredients for huge problems. I see it happening already in my constituency. The pressure on parents to leave home early in the morning to seek employment to pay for the mortgage and child care not only means they are not at home and children are expected to remain out of trouble in the course of their latch-key upbringing but also that those housing estates do not have the passive supervision that existed in such estates in previous times when only one parent was forced by economic circumstances to work outside the home. Burglaries will be another inevitable consequence.

The Garda Síochána is under increasing pressure. Although the Government will say there are more gardaí, there are far more duties for those gardaí. These include drugs related duties, public order duties, policing under age drinking and so forth. Will the Government support its debating and organisational strategy for the Garda with resources that are commensurate with the demographic changes that have taken place? I do not see that happening. The Garda Síochána does not see it because the figures do not add up even though the expectations of the Garda are constantly increasing.

Some gardaí are, understandably, suffering from low morale as a result of the pressures. Many of them are looking forward to early retirement if they can secure it, but that also creates the problem of vacancies arising which are left unfilled. However, there are, thank goodness, gardaí who engage with the community, in many cases above and beyond the call of duty, although one would like to think it is their duty to do so. I work with the Balbriggan Awareness of Drugs group which runs, in co-operation with the Garda Síochána, successful parent to parent courses. They are conducted on a voluntary basis by those involved but they facilitate a critical interaction between the Garda Síochána, parents and the community.

After seeing samples of confiscated illicit drugs, parents are in a position to recognise the substances when they unwittingly come upon them. A number of parents have approached me on this issue. They feel helpless when they belatedly discover that their children have been offered drugs or are getting caught up in a damaging, not to mention illegal, recreational pursuit. We commend the gardaí who are providing that level of co-operation. Hopefully, they will be emulated by others and helped by additional resources.

Deputy Haughey referred to the Lord Mayor of Dublin's commission on crime. I welcome that initiative. It has started a debate and ensured the community empathises more with the Garda Síochána and plays a part in alleviating the problems and stress which give rise to crime. I pay tribute to my colleague, Councillor Bronwen Maher, and other colleagues on Dublin City Council who worked with the Lord Mayor in initiating that commission. I hope the recommendations made by the commission will be seriously considered. Ultimately, much of the expectation on the Garda Síochána is related to its actions on the licensed trade and on late-night drinking in particular. In the town of Swords, there seems to be a deliberate policy to corral people into the licensed premises on the main street. The unseemly side of late-night drinking culture can therefore be contained and the Garda can concentrate their resources. This policy has a down side as it has a serious impact on the local community. This needs to be taken on board and I am glad the Minister gives much thought to this matter. I ask that further consideration be given to the communities that have to suffer the consequences of late-night drinking. They have to get up in the morning and provide economically for their families.

I welcome the fact that there has been some reaction against the habit-forming under age drinking promotions. Some spirits are being sold in small plastic bags and are not intended for social drinking as their producers might claim. A complaint has been upheld against that product. There are health and crime costs associated with not tackling under age drinking. In future years, Deputies will look back and ask why something more effective was not done about it. Hospitals are already bulging due to the effects of alcohol abuse.

The Garda need community support. They also need Government support. Such support can be given in resources. Organisational aid is welcome, but it will be a very small and meaningless part of the overall reform unless resources are provided. This is particularly the case in fast-growing areas like north Dublin, where the population has grown tenfold in some towns, yet the Garda strength seems to remain static. That cannot be sustained.

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