Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. As we all know, it has two main elements. The first is the question of bail and its refusal in the case of repeat or persistent offenders, and the second is the possibility of consecutive sentencing, again for repeat or persistent offenders. I do not have any difficulty with those provisions. We have been told, and figures show, that a small number of persistent offenders are responsible for a very large number of burglaries. However, there is a problem with statistics. We are told that approximately 27,000 burglaries take place every year, but there is a question mark over this statistic. It is possible that there is significant non-reporting of burglaries, because it is believed that the gardaí will take a significant length of time to arrive and that prosecutions may never occur. People whose homes have been burgled wonder whether it is of any great benefit to report it.

Invasion of the family home is very serious for any family. It creates fear within the family itself and among neighbours and the wider community. We have noted this in Tipperary and other areas over recent years. There is no doubt that the measures in this Bill will be of some help, but they will not solve the problem. Recently, the president of the Garda Representative Association said, "Legislation is always welcome but legislation requires enforcement, and enforcement requires gardaí." This is the nub of the problem. Unfortunately, the Government and its predecessor have undermined the Garda service. We have only to note the position as it has developed over recent years to realise this. The force has lost about 2,500 gardaí. One hundred and thirty-nine Garda stations are closed. The community garda system, which is excellent, has been depleted and personnel have been taken away to deal with other matters. There is no dedicated service in most of the country.

The traffic corps is an important element, particularly where city-based gangs use motorways to carry out burglaries down the country. As we were told just yesterday at the committee meeting, the traffic corps complement has decreased in the past few years from 1,200 to 738, a drop of 39%. The pay of gardaí has been reduced and conditions have deteriorated. There is a definite morale difficulty now because of the actions of the current and previous Governments. Only yesterday we were told about the attempt to freeze future Garda increments.

I welcome the return to recruitment of gardaí, but the recruitment rate is such that it will take anything from 20 to 25 years to return to the previous level. The rate is simply not high enough even to replace personnel who retire from the force each year. We need significant recruitment, probably 1,000 gardaí per year, if there is to be a real improvement. We need to reopen closed Garda stations. We need a focus for gardaí in local areas and we need to re-establish, on a dedicated basis, the community garda system. That system is absolutely excellent and works with local people, communities and youngsters, identifying difficulties before they arise. It is well worthwhile and very cost-effective. The number of gardaí in the traffic corps needs to be increased to its former level. Oddly enough, the traffic corps is key to combating burglaries, particularly when travelling gangs are involved.

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