Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I very much appreciate the fact that the Minister has given me the figures. I wish to set out some examples. Let us consider the Malahide district which includes the Garda stations in Malahide, Portmarnock and Kinsealy. The population is 27,000 as per the last census. There are no community gardaí in the district. The Swords Garda district covers the size of a city, an area larger than Limerick. As per the last census, the population was a little less than 50,000 and it had ten community gardaí. Balbriggan is larger than most regional towns and larger than some cities. It has a population of a little less than 40,000 and has two community gardaí. In Lusk the number is zero. In Rush the number is also zero because the Garda station has been closed. the number is also zero in Skerries. I am highlighting this issue because Garda senior management needs to look at these areas where it is obvious that numbers are down, in particular the numbers of community gardaí. I welcome the Minister's comments to the effect that he supports the concept of community policing, but it has been decimated in large swathes of the country, including my constituency of Dublin Fingal. I would be happy to work with the Minister and Garda management to ensure it is brought back to the fore and made a priority in areas throughout the country.

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