Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to hear that there has been an increase in the numbers. I will not give the numbers I have because I believe they are outdated. They date from last April. While I am glad that there has been an increase in the numbers, I contest that the Government sometimes underestimates the value of community gardaí and their effectiveness in fighting crime, rural crime in particular. The community garda is a confidant and trusted liaison between the man on the street and the man on the beat. Members of the public are far more comfortable in relaying potentially sensitive and confidential information on a crime to a garda they know and trust.

It is important to have a garda operating in this capacity who knows the community and the people of the community. The community garda can collect and convey vital crime-solving information to his or her colleagues. The single greatest deterrent to crime is a well informed garda on the beat. It is my firm belief that we should aim to have a community garda in every Garda station in the State. That is the level of importance that I place on this crucial policing position. Every parish in any part of Ireland, and in rural Ireland in particular, should have a community garda in place to fight the crime that we all know is there.

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