Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

The strength of the Garda Síochána at the end of 2011 was just under 13,900, along with over 2,000 civilian support staff and over 800 Garda Reserve members. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the total number of Garda retirements from the force in the first two months of this year is expected to be around 300. To put that figure into context, in 2009 the number of retirements was 722, in 2010 it was 362 and last year it was 436.

As the Deputy will be aware, these reductions form part of a wider programme aimed at reducing the size of the public service and will contribute to reducing expenditure and complying with the terms of the EU-IMF agreement. Of course, what will ultimately determine the sustainable level of Garda numbers is the level of budgetary provision that can be made for the force and the House will be conscious that difficult decisions will continue to have to be made right across the public sector in order to bring our public finances back into balance.

Reductions in numbers, whether in the Garda Síochána or elsewhere in the public sector, must be accompanied by reform. New efficiencies must be introduced so that even with reduced staffing levels the best possible service continues to be provided to the public. That need for efficiency is what underlies the recent decision of the Garda Commissioner to close some Garda stations. In coming to his decision, the Commissioner reviewed all aspects of the Garda Síochána's policing model, including the deployment of personnel, the utilisation of modern technologies and, of course, the level of activity in each Garda station.

The key objective of the station closures was not simply, as some have suggested, to save relatively small amounts of cash on station maintenance or utilities, but rather to promote the more efficient and effective deployment of resources. The Commissioner concluded that Garda resources could be better deployed and more effectively used on the front line if these particular stations no longer had to be staffed and maintained. Deputies who oppose the closure of any Garda stations are therefore opposing what in the professional judgment of the Garda Commissioner is a better use of Garda resources.

The House might be interested to note that today I announced that the Government, at my request and with the sanction of the Minster for Public Expenditure and Reform, had appointed two assistant commissioners, eight chief superintendents and 23 superintendents in An Garda Síochána. In seeking these promotions, I was conscious of the need to enable the Garda Commissioner to fill key positions in the senior ranks, and to maintain both the investigative and also the management and supervisory capacity of the force.

The Garda Commissioner has reiterated the commitment of the Garda Síochána to providing a professional and effective service to the community. This will mean continuing to promote reform and introduce efficiencies. The Commissioner will have my full support in this regard.

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