Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There was not much in that reply about Garda district amalgamations. That was what my question was about. That is an ongoing criticism I make about the quality of answers.

More than half the population of the county is in one district. Wexford is a big county. I will provide some statistics. There has been a 100% increase in drugs detected in the three years since the districts were merged. Theft is up by 25%.

The area is challenged. I see drug dealing on the streets in broad daylight. I see it outside my office on Main Street in Gorey. Ever since the decision was made I have campaigned vigorously to put one person in charge of this area. That someone is in charge of this area operating from another district means he does not do as good a job as a person from the area.

By all accounts, Operation Thor has turned out to be a success. There is high visibility and the Minister of State has touched on that. However, there is a more highly visible way in which to impact on criminality in the area where I live. It is to ensure a superintendent is in charge of the district. In that way, the district looks after itself. I do not mean to be disrespectful to anyone but someone from somewhere else will look after his primary area first. Gorey is now the second largest town in Wexford. The population in Courtown is in the district too, and that area has the fifth largest population in Wexford. Enniscorthy town is in the larger district. The current district is too big and unwieldy. A mistake was made. I appeal to the Minister of State to bring my strongly held views back to the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, the Garda authorities and others.

The joint policing committee in Wexford has met. It is fully supportive of the reinstatement of the Garda district. As I said, all of the five sitting Wexford Deputies fully support this. The closure of the district was a mistake. It is now time to rectify that mistake in line with the programme for Government, which promised to review the 2012 consolidation of Garda districts.

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