Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There is no evidence for that. The Minister's response did not address what is obviously a very dramatic fall which is what I want the Minister to address. While, on an individual basis, it is a decision for the Garda Commissioner, it is the Government which makes the policies. If the Government wants community policing to be a priority, it will be a priority for An Garda Síochána and the Commissioner. The Minister outlined objectives regarding visibility. The reduction in Donegal was from 35 to two, a 94% decrease. How are the gardaí to achieve visibility in that context? In Dublin's north inner city, there is a fall from 140 to 90 in only a few years, while there has been a decrease of 70% in the Dublin's south inner city. The GRA has said it is very disappointed and this needs to be reversed.

I raise this matter because I know for a fact that it has worked. I know the difference this has made in Cork and in communities there. I know people who are working, living good, honest lives because of the intervention of good community policing. It is one of the most effective policing interventions that exists. This Government and its predecessors have done nothing to invest in it and the model has been undermined with reductions of up to 94%, with a 40% fall overall. It is a dramatic decrease in numbers. These gardaí cannot be expected to work miracles. The numbers must be there and they need to have the time to dedicate themselves properly to the job.

Will the Minister address this and tell the House how he will ensure this enormous drop in numbers is reversed?

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