Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)

As many other speakers have said, the Bill was introduced in 2004 and it is now 2006. It was introduced initially in a shortened form having regard to the number of amendments to it. The manner in which this Bill has been brought before the House and changed out of all recognition is unfair to Members. It is also unusual, as is the procedure that we now are adopting.

I take this opportunity to make a few points on this entire area. Last week the Minister wrote to us all pointing out the strength of the Garda Síochána. He took the opportunity to refer to the record of the rainbow coalition. I have no difficulty with that. The figures show that during the course of the rainbow coalition, Garda numbers fell. I accept that that was the case. It obviously should not have been the case and it was not acceptable.

For a number of years I, Clonmel Borough Council, South Tipperary County Council and the Clonmel RAPID organisation have been asking the Minister to provide community gardaí in Clonmel and south Tipperary and at all stages he has refused to do so. No gardaí are dedicated to community policing in south Tipperary. The Minister has been asked to provide those gardaí on numerous occasions and he has failed to do so.

In the large town of Clonmel there are approximately 41 gardaí. Tralee, a comparable town, has 75 gardaí. At any one time in Clonmel there are a maximum of eight gardaí on duty, at least one of whom is in the station. One can understand that the manning levels are ridiculously low and need to be increased substantially. To add insult to injury, in the town of Fethard, which is also covered by the Clonmel area, up to two years ago there were three gardaí but when one of those gardaí retired on health grounds, she was never replaced and there is now one third less cover in that area. When the Minister refers to the record of other parties, he should also look at his own record in this area of resourcing the Garda and the manning levels in many towns and cities.

In County Tipperary there are only two garda dedicated to drug work. Everybody knows that people in every village and crossroads in every town in this country have access to illegal drugs. The level of Garda manning in this area, which is as low as two for the entire county of Tipperary which has a population of 120,000, is a matter which should be addressed immediately.

I concur with a point Deputy Nolan made about senior garda manning levels. As in Deputy Nolan's constituency, in my constituency there has been what can only be described as a revolving door of senior gardaí over recent years. There have been no long-standing senior appointments in the past three years in Clonmel. We have had three or four superintendents in that time and that simply does not help the situation.

I agree with much of what has been said about anti-social behaviour. Community gardaí, working with young people and communities, can go a long way towards solving that problem. As I stated to Deputy Andrews, there are small numbers of people involved in anti-social behaviour and much can be done by dealing with them on the basis of community gardaí liaising with the people concerned, with their parents and with the communities.

Obviously, there must be punishment and sentences. No doubt there must be severe sentences for serious crimes. While we must use the stick, we also must use the carrot. It is important that human services are funded by this Government. Unfortunately, since this Government came into power it has de-prioritised human services. There are 50,000 families on local authority housing waiting lists, there is a chaotic health service and the largest class sizes in education in Europe. The cycle of crime will continue unless money is put into those services and we get reasonable and proper services for ordinary people. One can put the gang leaders in jail but they will be replaced by others and the cycle of crime will continue. One must use both the stick and the carrot. Unfortunately, this Government has de-prioritised the human services and if that is not reversed, it will lead to untold difficulty in the future.

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